Therapy
Several of my friends have their children in speech therapy, although not necessarily for stuttering. The thing that fascinates me, though, is that all these children seem to love speech therapy. I even know of one family whose child continued with therapy even after the speech problem was no longer an issue, because he couldn't bear to give up the therapy sessions.
Yet, I've never heard a single adult stutterer have the same enthusiasm toward therapy. Don't get me wrong, many stutterers have wonderful things to say about their speech-language pathologists, but I'm not sure any would continue the therapy once their stutter was no longer a problem for them.
I gather, from talking to other stutterers and reading posts on various stuttering list-serves, that adult speech therapy involves "commitment to work hard," "venturing beyond one's comfort zone," "practicing over and over again various techniques," and so on—activities that don't really qualify as fun.
So why the difference? Why do children get fun speech therapy, with games and other exciting activities, but adults don't? Couldn't some of the therapeutic games preschoolers play be adapted for us older folks?
Just a thought.
Yet, I've never heard a single adult stutterer have the same enthusiasm toward therapy. Don't get me wrong, many stutterers have wonderful things to say about their speech-language pathologists, but I'm not sure any would continue the therapy once their stutter was no longer a problem for them.
I gather, from talking to other stutterers and reading posts on various stuttering list-serves, that adult speech therapy involves "commitment to work hard," "venturing beyond one's comfort zone," "practicing over and over again various techniques," and so on—activities that don't really qualify as fun.
So why the difference? Why do children get fun speech therapy, with games and other exciting activities, but adults don't? Couldn't some of the therapeutic games preschoolers play be adapted for us older folks?
Just a thought.
posted by Closet Stutterer at 11:44 AM
4 Comments:
..Couldnt find your email, so thought about writing a comment. This isnt a comment on this specific post..its just a hello from another stutterer :-)
Incidentally, someone gave me the same advice a few days back...do not hide your stuttering...i used to not speak in our company meetings and shy away from giving presentations or talking in a group of people, but there is no point in doing that..just say what you have to say...doesnt matter if you stutter or not...
i read a bit of your stuttering theory and i agree with it..you need to have confidence and say to yourself that you arent going to stutter..and also list down the words you find difficult...and practice it many times everyday.. :-)
-Ninad
Hi Ninad,
Thank you for writing.
I think you're right. We shouldn't hide our stuttering and it doesn't matter whether we stutter. It's still difficult to be open about it at times, though.
Good luck at your meetings and presentations. People will value and appreciate your contributions regardless of how smoothly they happen to come out.
Best wishes,
Sophie
I'm a mom of a teenage son that stutters. He went to speech therapy at age 4 and they played games etc... But when we moved and I wanted him to start back up again (age 5) he said no--because they want me to be perfect. It was not fun as a kid. The therapists asked my husband and I to talk slower as a model for our son--we're from the NY area and have bad habits--talking fast and interupting. It was nearly imposible--even out of love for our son, belief this would help--and committment, we could not do it. Now, 12 years after that suggestion, we have lived in the South, and do talk a bit slower. The kinds of therapy techniques he is supposed to use are going to take years of practice. Forget about trying to make sense while talking. It is not like asking someone with a weak arm to brush their hair, but like learning to do it with spastic/ tight muscles that want to go the other way--lots of concentrated effort--someday a payoff.
I always tell my son, people will not think less of you if you do not talk because of a stutter, but they will think more of you if you talk, express your ideas because it was harder to do.
Lynne
Hi Lynne,
Wow. I guess even with games therapy can be difficult. I didn't realize that.
I am so sorry your son has had to go through all this.
For what it's worth, I think your attitude is fabulous, and I know your son will benefit greatly from it.
Thank you for writing and opening my eyes.
Best wishes,
Sophie
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