25564_Covers:25564_Cvr 8/11/10 3:05 PM Page 1 about the founder ELEVENTH EDITION Malcolm Fraser knew from personal experience what self-therapy for the stutterer the person who stutters is up against, having struggled self-therapy with stuttering since early childhood. He first received therapy at age fifteen with Frederick Martin, M.D., Superintendent of Speech for the Correction for the New York City schools. A few years later, he worked with J. Stanley Smith, L.L.D., a philanthropist who stuttered who founded the Kingsley Clubs in stutterer Philadelphia and New York. These support groups were named after the English author, Charles Kingsley, who also stuttered. Fraser often led the discussions at both clubs. In 1928, he joined his older brother Carlyle who founded the MALCOLM FRASER NAPA-Genuine Parts Company that year in Atlanta, Georgia. Malcolm Fraser became an important leader in the company and was particularly outstanding in training others for leadership roles. In 1947, with a successful career under way, he founded the Stuttering Foundation of America. In subsequent years, he added generously to the endowment so that at the present time, endowment MALCOLM FRASER income covers over fifty percent of the operating budget. In 1984, Malcolm Fraser received the fourth annual National Council on Communicative Disorders’ Distinguished Service Award. The NCCD, a council of 32 national organizations, recognized the 11th Edition Foundation’s efforts in “adding to stutterers’, parents’, clinicians’, and the public’s awareness and ability to Dr. Kathleen Griffin (left) presents the deal constructively with stuttering.” NCCD 1984 Distinguished Service Award In 1989, Hamilton College, to Malcolm Fraser. Publication SFA No. 0012 Clinton, New York, presented Fraser with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters for his outstanding work on behalf of those who stutter. Malcolm Fraser was honored posthumously with the Charles Van Riper Award, presented by actor James Earl Jones at the 16th annual NCCD Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. ISBN 978-0-933388-93-2 Established by the American Speech-Language- THE Hearing Association in 1995, the Van Riper Award STUTTERING was given to Fraser for “his outstanding commit- FOUNDATION® ment to people who stutter.” PUBLICATION NO. 0012 9 7 8 0 9 3 3 3 8 8 9 3 2 25564_Covers:25564_Cvr 8/11/10 3:05 PM Page 2 Myths about stuttering Myth: People who stutter are not smart. This book Reality: There is no link whatsoever between stuttering and intelligence. has been provided in part Myth: Nervousness causes stuttering. Reality: Nervousness does not cause stuttering. Nor should we assume that through the generosity people who stutter are prone to be nervous, fearful, anxious, or shy. They have the same full range of personality traits as those who do of the not stutter. Genuine Parts Company Myth: Stuttering can be “caught” through imitation or by hearing another person stutter. Reality: You can’t “catch” stuttering. No one knows the exact causes of stuttering, but recent research indicates that family history (genetics), neuromuscular development, and the child’s environment, including family dynamics, all play a role in the onset of stuttering. Myth: It helps to tell a person to “take a deep breath before talking,” or “think about what you want to say first.” Reality: This advice only makes a person more self-conscious, making the stuttering worse. More helpful responses include listening patiently and modeling slow and clear speech yourself. Myth: Stress causes stuttering. Reality: As mentioned above, many complex factors are involved. Stress is not the cause, but it certainly can aggravate stuttering. These myth busters are from the flyer Myths About Stuttering, which can be downloaded at www.stutteringhelp.org, click on “Brochures for all ages.” THE STUTTERING FOUNDATIONா A Nonprofit Organization Since 1947—Helping Those Who Stutter THE P.O. Box 11749 • Memphis, TN 38111-0749 STUTTERING [email protected] FOUNDATIONா 800-992-9392 A Nonprofit Organization www.stutteringhelp.org www.tartamudez.org Since 1947—Helping Those Who Stutter © 2010, Stuttering Foundation of America 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 1 ELEVENTH EDITION self-therapy for the stutterer By Malcolm Fraser, L.H.D. Life Member American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Founder Stuttering Foundation of America THE STUTTERING FOUNDATION® PUBLICATION NO. 0012 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 2 self-therapy for the stutterer Publication No. 0012 First Edition—1978 Tenth Edition—2002 Revised Tenth Edition—2007 Eleventh Edition—2010 Published by Stuttering Foundation of America Post Office Box 11749 Memphis, Tennessee 38111-0749 Library of Congress Control Number: 2010932952 ISBN 978-0-933388-93-2 Copyright © 2010, 2007, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1993, 1978 by Stuttering Foundation of America The Stuttering Foundation of America is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of stuttering. Contributions are tax deductible. Printed in the United States of America. 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 3 Dedicated to all who seek relief from the burden of stuttering. 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 4 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 5 To the Reader There are always some stutterers who are unable to get professional help and others who do not seem to be able to profit from it. There are some who prefer to be their own therapists. In this book, Malcolm Fraser, Founder of the Stuttering Foundation of America, has provided some guidance for those who must help themselves. Knowing well from his own experience as a stutterer the difficulties of self-therapy, he outlines a series of objectives and challenges that should serve as a map for the person who is lost in the dismal swamp of stuttering and wants to find a way out. CHARLES VAN RIPER Distinguished Professor Emeritus and formerly Head, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Western Michigan University 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 6 “The stutterer must conquer his own problems. No one else can do it for him.” —Van Riper 6 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 7 Contents Use the Index (page 189) for location of instructive information concerning all phases of stuttering On Self-Therapy . 11 On This Approach to Self-Therapy . 13 Original Cause of Your Stuttering . 18 Factors Affecting Therapy . 19 Your Feelings and Emotions . 19 Tension and Relaxation . 21 Distractions . 24 Enlisting the Support of Others . 25 Your Determination . 27 The Premise and The Program . 29 A Helpful Therapy Procedure . 33 The All Important Ground Rules . 37–60 Talking Slowly and Deliberately . 41, 61 Stuttering Easily . 42, 65 Admitting That You Stutter . 43, 69 Eliminating Secondary Symptoms . 45, 80 Eliminating All Avoidances . 46, 85 Maintaining Eye Contact . 48, 95 Finding Out What You Do When You Stutter . 49, 99 Using Block Corrections . 51, 113 Moving Forward As You Speak . 52 Using Inflection . 53 Listening to Your Fluent Speech . 53 Talking All You Can . 54 Goals and Challenges . 55 Develop Heirarchy . .55 Set Up a Daily Quota . .57 Minimum and Maximum Goals . .57 Sample Chart . .58 Rewards . .59 Desirable Equipment . .59 Voluntary Stuttering . 72 Using The Telephone . 91 Analyzing Blocks . 101 and 107 Block Corrections . 113 Post-Block Correction . 115 In-Block Correction . 121 Pre-Block Correction . 123 Do You Get Discouraged? . 129 Let’s Review, What’s Been Done . 133 Where Are You—Conclusion . 137 A Personal Letter To You . .141 Appendix . 143 Support Groups—Sharing With Others . 144 The Effect of Fear . .145 On Breath Control . 146 Electronic Devices . 147 Using The Phone . 148 Eliminating Stereotypes . 151 Relevant and Interesting Quotations . 152 Glossary . 171 Authors of Quotations . 186 Index . 189 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 8 The person who stutters in this book is often referred to as “he” or “him.” This is done for editorial reasons but may be considered as fairly representative since it is estimated that 3 to 4 times as many males stutter as females. 8 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 9 The quotations and footnotes in this book have been taken from the writings of speech- language pathologists and medical doctors. All of them have earned degrees as doctors of philosophy or medicine and know what you are up against as most stutter themselves. They understand your problem from obser- vation and experience and represent a most distinguished array of authority and pres- tige in the field of stuttering. Their names and titles are listed starting on page 186. Those who stutter are marked with a star by their name. 9 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 10 “The importance of motivation cannot be exaggerated, and success or failure of therapy will depend on your commitment to follow through.” In case you are not familiar with the mean - ings of some of the words used in this book, you will find a glossary beginning on page 171 where definitions are given of terms and expressions used in the treatment of stuttering including many not found in this book. Read them for your general education in speech pathology. 10 25564_Txt:25564_Txt 8/11/10 3:21 PM Page 11 On Self-Therapy If you are like many of the three million stutterers in this country, adequate clinical treatment will not be available to you. Whatever you do you’ll have to be pretty much on your own with what ideas and resources you can use. (Sheehan) The first thing you must do is to admit to yourself that you need to change, that you really want to do some- thing about the way you presently talk. This is tough but your commitment must be total; not even a small part of you must hold back.