Today, there is more help available for people who stutter than ever before. People who stutter should educate themselves about stuttering and consider all available treatment options before making choices about what is best for their individual needs.
People who stutter represent a diverse population. No single remedy--be it a therapy program, an assistive device, or a medication--can work for everyone. To date, no single treatment method has proven to be effective for all people who stutter. Also, although a treatment may appear to help at first, its effectiveness may diminish over time.
One thing we do know is that reducing the number of disruptions in a person's speech is only part of effective management of stuttering. Although many people who stutter can increase their fluency at times, through a variety of methods, many also benefit from assistance in dealing with the emotional consequences of a lifetime of speaking difficulties. Improving the quality of life and attitude is as important a goal as reducing the amount of stuttering.
Effective therapy not only focuses on smoother speech...it also teaches people to be efficient and effective communicators even if they stutter. |
