Practical Thoughts Blog
Apr 21, 2025
Counting Stutters Is a Waste of Time!
When assessing stuttering, counting stutters does not reflect the overall experience of the person who stutters. Speech pathologists can stop counting stutters because listeners cannot observe stutters that a person experiences, the nature of stuttering is that it is always variable, some people who stutter can appear fluent by altering their communication in unhelpful ways, and stuttering is a complex communication difference, and cannot be...
Apr 07, 2025
If stuttering is Verbal Diversity™, then is it still a disorder?
Stuttering is a disorder and a difference. Stuttering is a disability if the person who stutters experiences negative impact because of their stuttering. Confusion regarding specific terminology in the neurodiversity era provides us an opportunity to clarify some of the terminology that can be confusing for clinicians and caregivers alike. These discussions about terminology can enhance our understanding of the life experiences of those who...
Oct 17, 2024
If I don’t count stutters, how can I qualify people for therapy?
You’ve probably heard that our field is moving away from using stuttering frequency counts as a way of measuring stuttering. In our opinion, this is a very good development—it is something that we have been encouraging for quite a while now, and it is increasingly important as we come to view stuttering as an example of Verbal Diversity™. (For more discussion of stuttering as Verbal...
Sep 17, 2024
Stuttering as Verbal Diversity™: How Does this Change our Role as SLPs?
The field of speech-language pathology is changing. As we shift away from the medical model that sees stuttering as a pathology, we are on a journey toward becoming neurodiversity-affirming allies. Creating stutter-affirming environments requires a fundamental shift in how we perceive and interact with stuttering. These changes in perspective not only support individuals who stutter but also foster an inclusive atmosphere that embraces communication diversity....
Aug 05, 2024
"Mister Rogers' Speech"
Years ago, J. Scott Yaruss decided to study the speech patterns of the famous Mr. Rogers in order to discern if he did, indeed, speak "slower than other people." This blog looks into that study and the surprising results that can help SLPs and society. understand why "slow rate" is an entirely relative concept.
Jul 25, 2024
Shifting Perspectives About Stuttering
In the era of expanding our understanding of neurodiversity-affirming stuttering therapy, a first step is to make certain we, as speech-language pathologists (SLPs), are approaching assessment and therapy from the perspective of the person who stutters. Their experiences inform our therapy planning. There are reasons why our past professional practices were based upon the listener's observations of stuttering, and there are three major reasons why...
Dec 31, 2023
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.
Nov 13, 2023
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...
Mar 28, 2023
What treatment approach should I use with a particular young child who stutters?
In several earlier blog posts, I have stressed the importance of individualized treatment for young children who stutter and their families. Now, it's time to take a look at what factors guide me toward one approach or another...
Jan 05, 2023
Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) appropriate for kids who stutter?
Coming to terms with stuttering is an important goal for adults and children alike, but it can be challenging. Fortunately, there are many therapy strategies that speech-language pathologists can use from the world of counseling psychology to help our clients achieve these important goals.
Oct 09, 2022
Is it true that prolonged speech is the best type of fluency therapy?
Prolonged speech is a strategy for helping people who stutter speak more fluently. Read this post by Dr. Yaruss to understand why it may not be the only strategy -- or even the best strategy -- that you need to learn.
Jun 28, 2021
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.
