Practical Thoughts Blog

The "Deep Breath" Dilemma

The "Deep Breath" Dilemma

This blog helps speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in their work with students who stutter. SLPs often feel confused about how to "un-train" deep breathing for students who have been instructed to take a deep breath before talking.

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What is Verbal Diversity?™

What is Verbal Diversity?™

The Emergence of Verbal Diversity™ Before we delve into the concept of "verbal diversity," it's essential to understand the background of stuttering in society. In brief, stuttering has historically been viewed as a flaw, a burden, or something that needed to be "fixed." People who stutter have been subjected to therapies aimed at eliminating their disfluencies. This type of therapy has frequently led to frustration, low...

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School-age child sitting across from adult at a table

Is it true that stuttering can’t be cured after age 7?

It is generally recognized that early intervention is best for children who stutter. But what does it mean if the child is still stuttering as he approaches the school-age years? Dr. Yaruss talks about the misunderstandings caregivers can experience when their children who stutter transition from preschool to early elementary ages.

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My Student Seems to be Gasping for Air!

My Student Seems to be Gasping for Air!

Speech-language pathologists often ask about children who stutter or have fluency concerns who exhibit “audible inhalations” or gasp for air when engaged in conversational speech. In this blog post, we address 3 scenarios for when and how we might address appropriate breathing strategies in stuttering therapy.

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Guest Blog: Eden Molineaux

Guest Blog: Eden Molineaux

I picked up her title about stuttering (of course), and as I thumbed through the pages, I realized I was reading what I had been thinking and saying for 30+ years! THIS is how we help peers and teachers (and other stakeholders) learn about how to handle stuttering! The cherry on top is that her book also help provide an advocacy perspective for children who...

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