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A support group for people who stutter |
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One of the most commonly asked questions about stuttering is: Is there a cure? Because so many different treatments are available and so many adults stutter, perhaps the answer is no. But this is misleading. Speech-language therapists and many researchers say great changes can be made if a stutter is treated early enough. Also, the word cure implies that something undesirable no longer happens and with a condition like stuttering, with deeply ingrained and complex habit patterns especially in adults, it is unreasonable to expect fluency to happen easily. So therapists and others offering treatment talk about control rather than cure. Many people have benefited greatly from treatments available. Some of the habits associated with stuttering are easy to isolate, control and sometimes eliminate. Others are more difficult. What helps most in overcoming or controlling a stutter is what you do yourself. Before any treatment can be effective, a person who stutters has to accept responsibility for his or her behaviour and for carrying out the changes. Other attitudinal changes will need to be considered as well, such as a willingness to resist the temptation to hide the stuttering, a willingness to experiment with different methods and a willingness to enter difficult speaking situations. For adults, working on stuttering is usually a long-term undertaking, requiring courage, commitment and self-acceptance. Becoming fluent may be liberating, bringing about greater independence, openness and confidence. Very young children are more easily guided and their habits are less deeply entrenched. That is why treatment for them is more effective. Parents take responsibility in seeking treatment so their child might not even be aware of being guided. START (Stuttering Treatment and Research Trust) ph. (09) 3796364 541 Parnell Rd Auckland specialises in treatment for stuttering www.stuttering.co.nz e mail support@stuttering.co.nz BOOK REVIEW by George Dabb Of all the books and manuals I have read on stuttering, ‘I Conquered My Stutter,’ by Dan Watson, rates with the best of them, and number one for motivational writing. Written for either a first time seeker of stuttering treatment, or for an experienced stutterer who has tried all manner of ways to control his / her stutter - with varying degrees of success, the author offers a simple but effective control programme without getting technical. This works equally well for those of us who used to be fluent but have since relapsed The author begins with his own account of his search for answers to overcome his stutter. He quickly moves on to the crux of the matter. Stuttering is said to be mainly psychological with a bit of habit thrown in. While other treatment techniques concentrate to a large extent on physical correction and speech practice, he places a lot more emphasis on feeling good about ones self, and more importantly, how to go about it. He takes us step by step into the procedure and then offers many invaluable practical tips such as how to get out of a block that one is in right now, and how to prevent a block before it actually occurs. A lot of the information is not new, but is put in such a way so as to be easily applicable to this programme. Having a positive attitude and refusing to take on negative thoughts are essential parts of improving our speech. As one’s mental attitude gradually changes, so does one’s fluency and confidence increase. - but it cannot be expected overnight. This manual is very reasonably priced at US$24.95 and is downloaded from the website. Information at: http://www.wheelsspinround.co.uk/astratechost1/CYS/index.html
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