Professional Advice
My name is Catherine. I am currently an undergraduate student and am in a language disorders course. I plan to pursue a career working with older adults (not as an SLP). Do you have any advice on how I can help make someone who stutters comfortable when communicating with them? Also, is there anyone who has experience working with an older adult who stutters? So far, I have really only seen children and younger adults.
Catherine,
HI! Nice to meet you! Congrats on being an undergraduate in SLP.
To answer your question about “Is there anyone who has experience working with an older adult who stutters?”, you will probably find that many of us do. Did you have something specific to ask about an older adult? I have worked with several. Let me know.
As for your first question about, “how I can help make someone who stutters comfortable when communicating with them?” Listen to them. Remember, they are people. If we are modeling comfort when we listen and communicate with a PWS, we are modeling what they can do for themselves. People who stutter can listen to themselves with kindness, patience, and openness. We can talk about the value of “patient”, and giving ourselves space and time to grow, learn, and move toward the person we wish to be.
We can model being vulnerable by sharing pieces of ourselves. We model being honest, but expressing things that might be challenging for us. We can make a human connection through knowing suffering and joy.
These are just a few basic thoughts. Keep asking questions!
With compassion and kindness,
Scott