Fluency Quiz 1

What is the underlying message when focusing solely on fluency?

The problem may lie not with people who stutter, but with a society that is largely unprepared or disinclined to accommodate them. It does not take long to listen!

Discuss how you as a clinician can incorporate Reeves and Quesal message about addressing microagressions and being an empathetic clinician into your practice.

• Understanding that we can’t script our way out of microaggressions but we can be an ally through deep reflection on biases, finding new perspectives, and giving yourself grace.

• And understanding and teaching that stuttering is ok!!!

• Decreasing and working towards eliminating biases and stereotypes about stuttering as a loss of control not loss of fluency

What are some of the micro-aggressive comments that can be harmful?

1. Complimenting fluency

2. Advice-giving

3. De-validating the lived experience of stuttering

Ex.  “You sounded so good; you didn’t stutter at all!”; “Just take a deep breath and slow down.”

Definition of stuttering

A disruption in the flow of speaking characterized by repetitions (sounds, syllables, words, phrases), prolongation, blocks, interjections, and/or revisions. These disfluencies may be accompanied by physical tension, negative reactions, secondary behaviors, and avoidance of sounds, words, or speaking situations.

Top 6 risk factors for the persistence of stuttering

1. Family history of stuttering

2. Male

3. Poor phonological or articulation abilities

4. Higher % of stuttering disfluencies

5. Poor receptive/expressive language

6. Stuttering for more than 6 months

Current etiology model of stuttering, components of the model, and how you can apply the model to your practice

Multifactor Dynamic Pathways Theory: complex and changing interactions among speech motor, language, and emotional factors explain stuttering.

• genetics (80% is due to genetics)

• Neurophysiology

• Environment

• Personality/temperment

• Demands/capacity

When does stuttering normally begin

Usually between the ages 2-5 for developmental stuttering

What is the worldwide prevalence of stuttering

1% of adult population stutters (70 million people worldwide)

Benefits of using indirect questions to establish a “fluency friendly” environment

Helps reduce the number of questions being asked directly to the person which can help the person share information when they are comfortable, feel less time pressure, and receive a strong language model.

Normal disfluency to borderline fluency progression

Normal disfluency: 10 or fewer disfluencies per 100 words, 1 unit repetitions, mostly repetitions, interjections, and revisions. Not aware or concerned with disfluencies.

Borderline: 11 or more dysfluencies per 100 words; more than two units in repetitions; more repetitions and prolongation than revisions or interjections. Generally not aware, may occasionally show momentary surprise or mild frustration with stuttering.