I’ve heard from so many of you including speech therapists, parents, and adults who stutter who wholeheartedly agree with my concerns around introducing speech tools to children who stutter. You share stories of the increased silence and withdrawal, depression and lack of achievement. You also share stories of hope, most often hinged on simply listening and helping the child to develop a life around the child’s passions instead of how they talk. You share stories of how you kept kids talking and kept if fun.
I love hearing those stories — it gives me hope for these kids. Others in more influential positions need to hear your voices also. Please connect with the powers that be, especially ASHA, to share your first-hand experiences and concerns. They need to fully understand the front-line reality of these “evidence-based” recommendations. Create your own message or feel free to forward any posting from my blog.
Links to ASHA include:
http://www.asha.org/about/governance/BOD/members/
http://www.stutteringspecialists.org/
Unearth your voices!
Happy 2014!
Best,
Doreen (Dori) Lenz Holte
Author of Voice Unearthed: Hope, Help, and a Wake-Up Call for the Parents of Children Who Stutter