Therapy Thursday: Stuttering 101

In the decade that I've been a Speech Pathologist, I've only had a handful of children with "fluency disorders" (aka stuttering). And most of those have been very mild.

Although stuttering was an early focus within the field of Speech Pathology, it is a very controversial and nebulous area of treatment. Many would argue that stuttering is much more psychology than speech. In support of that theory, the Medicaid program refuses to pay for treatment of stuttering, although they will pay for all language and articulation therapy.

Nevertheless, stuttering therapy remains in my scope of practice and a school age eligibility for speech therapy services.

So... with the addition of a new student with moderate to severe stuttering, I am relearning everything I once thought I understood in grad school.

Come, learn along with me:

Picture Exchange Communication

I recently attended a formal Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). This is a low technology way of augmenting communication for individuals with severe communication disorders. It helps teach initiation of language, requesting choice items, and (eventually) commenting through pictures (and often speech).

After the training, I immediately began level one with several of my students. I am very pleased with how it is going thus far!

Take a look at this PECS level 1 training video if you are interested:

Teaching Tuesday: Dr. Seuss Day

re-posted from last year:


Do you search all day for moose?
Or spend time pursuing fame?
Instead, try playing Dr. Seuss
Seussville is sure to have your game.

Are you looking for a laugh
Or a Seussical parody
Give yourself a craft and a half
Don't mind the lack of sincerity.

Did you know that Dr. Seuss
(for Geisel was his real last name)
Had to author his works by means loose,
And thus delay his future fame.

He was caught throwing a wee party
During prohibition days
And swore he'd never be tardy
And "gave up" extra curricular ways.

A doctorate he never earned
Though he started for a PhD,
He married and moved, but yearned
To write stories of hilarity.

Hurray for his perseverance
Creator of "Grinch", "Horton" and "Sam"
Three cheers for his endurance
Our children reading at last, "I am!"

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday, I have adapted his classic
There's A Wocket in My Pocket.