Overview

Survey research reveals that SLPs feel poorly prepared to treat children and adults who stutter. Here’s How to Do Stuttering Therapy serves as a practical guide to provide stuttering therapy, based upon a well-articulated philosophy of the disorder. The book is a practical guide that provides readers with a solid rationale for assessment and treatment, but does not dwell on theories, philosophies, or specific programs. Rather, the orientation is toward application, while providing a justification based upon research and the information we know about stuttering.

The uniqueness of the book is the focus on applied practice and functional applications. While other books present theory and structure of therapeutic approaches, Here’s How to Do Stuttering Therapy offers a hands-on, eclectic approach centered on the needs of the client, rather than the structure of any specific treatment program.

Audience

Primary Subject: Speech and Language Pathology / Articulation, Phonetics, Phonology
Audience Level: Professional

Foreword by Thomas Murry, PhD vii
Preface ix
Acknowledgments and Dedication xi

Chapter 1 Basic Clinical Skills for Stuttering Therapy 1
Introduction 1
Getting Oriented 3
Basic Clinical Skills 6
Treatment Basics 10
First Session Advice 15
Meeting the Client for the First Time 18
Another Perspective on Stuttering 19
Clients Who Have Had Therapy Before 22
Where to Start 25
Consumers of Our Services 25
References 27

Chapter 2 Childhood Stuttering 29
An Overview of Childhood Stuttering 30
Developmental Levels of Stuttering 31
Pertinent Facts About Stuttering 32
Components of Evaluation and Treatment 34
Characteristics of Childhood Stuttering 36
Evaluating Stuttering in Children 39
Treatment Approaches 45
Working with Parents 53
The Clinical Teaching Paradigm 57
Treatment Activities 62
Sample Treatment Plans 64
Support Resources 68
References 69

Chapter 3 Stuttering in Adolescents and Adults 71
An Overview of Adolescent and Adult Stuttering 72
Assessing Adolescents and Adults Who Stutter 74
Speech Characteristics of Adolescents and Adults Who Stutter 77
Affective Characteristics of Stuttering 78
Treatment Approaches 79
Working with Emotions, Anxiety, Fear, Negative Past Experiences 87
Working with Covert Stuttering 93
Determining a Starting Point for Therapy 97
Therapy Techniques (Targets) 98
Signs of Progress in Therapy 127
Sample Therapy Session 141
Organizations/Support Groups 144
References 145

Chapter 4 Activities for Stuttering Therapy 147
Introduction 148
Speech Activities 149
Emotive Activities 152
Some Activities for Speech Goals 163
Some Activities for Emotive Goals 174

Index 187

About The Author

Gary Rentschler, PhD

Dr. Rentschler is Clinic Director at Duquesne University, where is heads the stuttering therapy program at the University Clinic. He is a Board Recognized Specialist in Fluency Disorders, and is currently serving as a Board member of the Specialty Recognition Board. Dr. Rentschler has been recognized as ‘Speech Pathologist of the Year’ by the National Stuttering Association.

In addition to his role in clinical education, he teaches courses in stuttering therapy, professional ethics, and legal issues for speech pathologists. Dr. Rentschler received a Master of Arts and Doctoral degrees for State University of New York at Buffalo.

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