ISAD awareness
Hi! I’m currently studying in undergrad for speech language-pathology and have been analyzing/reading a lot of different stories and perspectives on this site. Are there any words of advice that you would give to us future SLPs to keep in mind while working with people who stutter, or things to avoid? Also, speech therapy is often heard about when referring to kids who are in elementary/middle school. Is it common for PWS to continue with speech therapy through adulthood?
Hello! Welcome to this beautiful field of speech-language pathology. 🙂 Congratulations on your studies, and thank you so much for asking this question to the professional panel. I am very honored to be answering your questions.
Question 1: Are there any words of advice that you would give to us future SLPs to keep in mind while working with people who stutter, or things to avoid?
-This is a great question to ask. 🙂 The biggest advice that I would give to future speech-language pathologist when working with people who stutter would be to LISTEN to them. You may be the first one to ever listen to this individual speak, and allow this person to fully say what is on their mind. Society doesn’t always allow them to do so, and by doing this. you are showing them that you truly care about what they have to say. Use active listening skills, and communicate with this person as if they are your equal. Be sure to ask with this person prefers- what terms does this person prefer to use for their personal journey with stuttering, and does this person have any strong feelings about therapy or certain therapy methods in the past? Avoid trying to create your own agenda as the clinician- therapy is designed around what the person who stutters or the parent/guardian/child wishes to accomplish in their life story- not what you wish for them to accomplish in their own life journey. We are treating their stuttering not our own stuttering. 🙂
Question 2: Is it common for PWS to continue with speech therapy through adulthood?
-This is a person to person basis. Early intervention is always best- so sometimes children are just ready to take a break with therapy at times. Some adults seek therapy too- just because a person stutters doesn’t mean they have to get therapy of course.. my brother is a person who stutters since the age of 6 and has never had speech therapy because he has never really wanted to. Some individuals who stutter will say they have been in therapy since they can remember, while other adults will come into your office and tell you they have never ever been in therapy before. It just depends on the person. 🙂 You will oftentimes see more children that stutter when you work in the public schools than you see adults who stutter when you work in an outpatient setting, for example, but if you specialize in stuttering and work in a center that only sees individuals who stutter, then you will see adults who stutter in the clinic all of the time. I hope that this has helped to answer your questions. Take care.