Stuttering Tx Across the Lifespan
As stuttering is something that occurs across the lifespan, and the Tx process can involve the participation of friends, family, spouses, etc., what are some examples of how stuttering Tx looks different with clients of different age groups? How might it look similar? (E.g., how might the goals differ?)
Dear Aloree99,
HI! Thank you for writing and asking questions to learn a little more about stuttering. Your question of what does stuttering therapy look like over a lifespan. One common thread is getting family involved (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles) to the well-being of the person who stutters (if the person who stutters wants them involved). The word SUPPORT means to be there with the person who stutters and focusing on their needs. As a person goes from a child to adolescents to adulthood stuttering evolves, which also allows treatment evolve.
We always want to actively listen to a person who stutters. As children they might just want to be heard by everyone. Treatment looks to help confidence, self-worth, self-esteem, finding more ease when speaking. Adolescence might be about finding their voice that enhancing the content they wish to express. They involves acceptance of entire self, working on vocal variety, gestures when communicating, and more effective public speaking skills (organization for one). As adults, looking for a career and socializing as adults. Activities in treatment might include mock job interviews, adult socializing example, phone calls, and more. These are to gain confidence with their natural feeling voice.
The above is just a brief idea with SO MANY more ideas. Keep asking questions!
With compassion and kindness,
Scott
Hi!
To put it to you visually, I think of the child as being at the very center of a circle which represents their environment. As the child grows older, the circle keeps expanding. Starting at the parents, then involving teachers, friends (and some not so great friends), personal and professional partners, superiors and subordinates, society and the world. The therapist’s job is to ensure that the people in the child’s/ adolescent’s / person’s circle are all accounted for in some way in the therapy process. Some might be directly involved and act as strong support systems, some might prove to be barriers that the person must learn to cope with, while some (like societal attitudes) which might have an indirect influence on the individual and need to be dealt with in therapy.
The similarities might be in the goals relevant to the person’s speech behaviors.. the differences in the goals relevant to giving to and taking from the current environmental milieu that they are in.
This is just some food for thought.. if it makes you think of more questions, do ask!
Regards
Pallavi