StutterTalk

One of the most challenging questions to satisfactorily answer in stuttering treatment and in the community is what causes stuttering? Today on StutterTalk we launch a series featuring a range of perspectives and experiences on this important topic. Our first guest for this series is Dr. Mark Onslow.

Dr. Onslow discusses his view that stuttering “appears to be a problem with neural processing of speech involving genetics” (link) and is asked to discuss brain imaging research on the cause of stuttering that is currently being conducted at the University of Sydney. Dr. Onslow is asked how his treatment and research experience may influence how he views causation and much more.

Mark Onslow is the Foundation Director of the Australian Stuttering Research Centre (ASRC) at The University of Sydney. From 2004-2008, Dr. Onslow was a Principal Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, being the only speech pathologist to have received this distinction. Dr. Onslow’s accomplishments include authoring over 250 publications related to stuttering. Dr. Onslow is one of the lead developers of the Lidcombe Program, a widely used and researched preschool stuttering treatment (see full bio here).

Related Links:

* ASRC Downloads (lectures, guides, etc.)

* ASRC Publications

Nick Weaver, COO and co-founder of Blue Delta Jeans, is asked about facing stuttering during holiday events such as parties and meals. Nick proposes going on the offense with speaking and embracing conversations with family and friends. During the second half of today’s episode, Mr. Weaver is asked to weigh on how much society should change in how it views stuttering versus how much people who stutter should change.

Nick Weaver was recently featured on StutterTalk episode 547. Mr. Weaver was featured in the article, Finding the Perfect Fit, published by the Stuttering Foundation and in a Stuttering Foundation video from their 2015 New York City gala. Mr. Weaver was the keynote speaker at the 2015 FRIENDS Convention. Nick is a role model, an entrepreneur, an app developer, a husband, a father, a person who stutters and much more.

While self help and therapy often reduce shame and increase self acceptance for people who stutter, sometimes negative feelings persist, linger or return. How should people who stutter and professionals respond when shame and embarrassment persist? On the second half of today’s episode we discuss the question “When is therapy over?” When should professionals “dismiss” clients and when should people who stutter consider ending treatment? Today on StutterTalk, Jeff Shames and Robert “the Expert” Quesal join Peter Reitzes to discuss these important issues.

Jeff Shames is a social worker, psychotherapist, filmmaker and writer who co-founded the Manhattan Stuttering Group. Jeff co-produced the documentary films Spit It Out and My First Friends Convention.

Robert Quesal, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a professor emeritus of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Illinois University, a person who stutters, a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a retired Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and Fluency Disorders.

Iain Wilkie and Walter Scott join Christopher Constantino to discuss supporting people who stammer at work and in the military in the UK and their work with The Employer’s Stammering Network and Defense Stammering Network. Wilkie and Scott discuss their mission of changing the culture around employability and the victories and growth that many people who stammer find when seeking support and being open about stuttering. 

Iain Wilkie is a Senior Partner at EY and the Founder of the Employer’s Stammering Network.

Walter Scott is a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Defense Head Office and a founding member of the Defense Stammering Network.

Christopher Constantino is a person who stutters, a StutterTalk host and a PhD student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. Chris is doing his clinical fellowship in the Shelby County Schools in Memphis and is conducting a research study to understand and contextualize the experiences of passing as fluent for people who covertly stutter.

Related Links:

* Stammering Workshops

* Armed Forces Portal

* My War With Words

When should a therapist “push” the client during treatment and when should the therapist “back off?” Today on StutterTalk, Bob “the Expert” Quesal and Christopher Constantino join Peter Reitzes to discuss the speech-language pathologist’s role in encouraging and supporting risk taking during stuttering treatment. Topics include readiness for change, respecting the wishes of students and clients, the role of motivation in treatment, self help vs therapy, “pushing” the client towards meaningful goals, the possible tampering down of speaking excitement during speech therapy and much more.

Robert Quesal, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a professor emeritus of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Illinois University, a person who stutters, a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a retired Board Certified Specialist in Fluency and Fluency Disorders.

Christopher Constantino is a person who stutters and a PhD student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. Chris is doing his clinical fellowship in the Shelby County Schools in Memphis and is conducting a research study to understand and contextualize the experiences of passing as fluent for people who covertly stutter.

Books mentioned on today’s episode:

* Effective Counseling in Stuttering Therapy 

* Advice to Those Who Stutter

Caryn Herring, Joel Korte and Roisin McManus of the StutterTalk B Team discuss the pros and cons of non-stutterers in leadership roles for stuttering self-help groups. Topics include the benefits and challenges of including speech-language graduate students in support meetings.

 

 

Link from today’s episode:

* Experiencing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): A Journey for SLPs and Adults Who Stutter (workshop flier; October 17, 2015, Raleigh, NC)

Today on StutterTalk Christopher Constantino and Peter Reitzes discuss the problem with fluency. The problem includes the common use of the term fluency when stuttering is more specific and appropriate and the suggestion that something called fluency should be the focus and goal of all treatment. Chris discusses these issues from disability rights and speech-language pathology perspectives. Constantino points out that “fluency isn’t automatically better than stuttering” and discusses his research into spontaneity and “seeking a more nuanced understanding of stuttered and fluent speech.” Listener comments and questions are discussed.

Christopher Constantino is a person who stutters and a PhD student in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Memphis. Chris is doing his clinical fellowship in the Shelby County Schools in Memphis and is conducting a research study to understand and contextualize the experiences of passing as fluent for people who covertly stutter.

Links from today’s episode:

* Learning to Love to Stutter

There is so much information available on stuttering. Some of the resources are trusted and honest while others make unreliable claims which may offer misinformation, quick fixes and even cures. Today on StutterTalk, Lee Caggiano joins Peter Reitzes to discuss essential and trusted resources in the stuttering community. If you are looking for information about stuttering, a professional such as a speech-language pathologist or a support network, these organizations are a trusted place to start.

Lee Caggiano, MA CCC-SLP is a board certified specialist and mentor in fluency disorders, the parent of an adult who stutters and director of FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.

The trusted stuttering resources discussed today include:

* The Stuttering Foundation

* FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter

* The National Stuttering Association

* SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young

* Stuttering Homepage

* Passing Twice

* American Board of Fluency and Fluency Disorders

* StutterTalk

Links mentioned on today’s episode:

* Summer Camps and Clinics

* International Stuttering Association 

* Books on Stuttering

* International List of Support Organizations

Are you frustrated or confused about something people are calling “normal stuttering” or “normal developmental stuttering”? If so, then this episode is for you! Nan Bernstein Ratner tackles the question, what is stuttering?

Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-CLLD is Professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park. She is a Fellow and Honors recipient of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). Dr. Ratner is author of numerous articles and chapters addressing language acquisition and fluency and co-author, with Oliver Bloodstein, of A Handbook on Stuttering (6th edition) – one of the most respected and cited stuttering texts of our time. Dr. Ratner is a much called upon adviser to StutterTalk.

Links from today’s episode:

* ASHA: What is stuttering?

* The Illinois International Stuttering Research Program Publications

* Stutter More, with Feeling

Michael Giannangeli is asked about being a person who stutters in the business world and at elite universities, his success with avoidance reduction therapy and working with Vivian Sisskin, his concerns with fluency shaping treatment, self help, Toastmasters and much more. Mr. Giannangeli points out the benefits of embracing the role of a stutterer and doing the thing you fear most. He shared that fluency is not the goal. 

Michael Giannangeli, 25 years old, was born and raised in Washington, DC. Mr. Giannangeli spent the last three years as an Economic Consultant at Analysis Group in DC and is currently pursuing an MBA at the MIT Sloan School of Management in Boston, MA. Michael played varsity basketball at Swarthmore College and remains a basketball junkie despite a recently ruptured Achilles tendon.