Stuttering Self-Help for Adults

Stuttering, also known as disfluency or stammering, is an intriguing subarea of speech pathology. This text is designed as a self-help resource for stutterers. No text can replace the therapeutic process based on rapport between clinician and client; therefore, the aim for this book is to be helpful as a supplement to clinician-guided therapy. The book is divided into two parts. Part I describes the four phases of stuttering and gives possible causes of stuttering. The discussions of the definitions of stuttering, possible causes, and spontaneous recovery are enlightening. Part II addresses the '13 Steps Toward Overcoming Stuttering': (1) Facing up to the Problem; (2) Identifying the Symptoms; (3) Measuring Severity; (4) An 'Easy' Approach to Speaking; (5) Eliminating 'Tricks'; (6) Eliminating Secondary Physical Characteristics; (7) Controlling 'Negative Emotions'; (8) Special Techniques for Enhancing Fluency; (9) Carry-over to 'Real Life' Situations; (10) Trying Public Speaking; (11) Evaluating our Life Style; (12) Accepting Fluency; and (13) Coping with Relapse. Followed by a 'Final Examination' and ten appendices which provide additional assistance, this text will be beneficial to both clinicians and therapists in speech pathology and their patients.