Practical Thoughts Blog

A speech therapist looking worried

Caregivers want me to work on fluency. What do I say?

-By STR's Dr. J. Scott Yaruss  Many parents and caregivers contact speech therapists because they want their children to stop stuttering. This is understandable, and no one could blame them for having this desire. Unfortunately, this is not generally something that they can have, for we know that there is no cure for stuttering in school-age children, adolescents, and adults. This basic fact is one...

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Stuttering as Verbal Diversity™: How Does this Change our Role as SLPs?

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....

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"Mister Rogers' Speech"

"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.

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Shifting Perspectives About Stuttering

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...

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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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Stuttering Therapy Resources Verbal Diversity Blog Post

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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Fluency Focus: A Perspective from a Person Who Stutters

Fluency Focus: A Perspective from a Person Who Stutters

Reuben Schuff shared his experiences with stuttering therapy and highlights key points for speech-language pathologists to consider: focus not on the expectation of fluency but on the development of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of a person who is an effective, efficient, and joyful communicator!

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"Next Time, Try to Be More Fluent"

"Next Time, Try to Be More Fluent"

Speech-language pathologist Allison Ladavat shares her experiences as a person who stutters in graduate school. Learn critical lessons about how we, as SLPs, need to change our own attitudes about stuttering.

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