What are the primary types of therapy approaches used to address dysfluencies?
Fluency shaping therapy, based upon operant conditioning principles, first establishes fluency in a controlled stimulus situation. This fluency is reinforced and gradually modified to approximate normal conversational speech in the therapy room. This speech is then transferred to other situations either directly or with the help of stuttering modification techniques. Stuttering modification techniques involve a more holistic approach, looking at the individual and characteristics of the dysfluency when planning treatment. We consider possible contributing factors to dysfluency, such as weaknesses in physiological, cognitive, and social/emotional processes which may underlie the symptoms. When these “processes” are strengthened, fluency is facilitated. (Based on a response provided by Dr. Peter Ramig on his website.) Links to stuttering resources: http://www.stutterhelp.org http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/therapy.html www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/kids/kids.html www.mnsu.edu/dept/comdis/
