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Help! This child is stuttering
231
BOOK REVIEWS
Help! This Child is Stuttering.
J. W. Selmar. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed, pages.
1989, $3.00, 41
Reviewed by W. MANNING, PH.D.
Depurtmrnt qf Audiology Memphis State University Memphis, TN
und Speech
Pathology
This 41-page pamphlet is intended to provide information to parents and teachers of school-age children who stutter, so they can better relate to and help the stuttering child. Information, organization, and style of the presentation accomplish these goals. The author also does a commendable job of achieving another stated goal, assisting parents in diminishing the mystery associated with stuttering. The initial section explains basic terminology used with fluency and fluency disorders, including an explanation of the natural variability of fluency. The author then stresses the importance of understanding (and eventually changing) the attitudes and feelings that are at the core of the stuttering experience. The importance of dealing with avoidance behavior during treatment is stressed, as well as changing the speaker’s attitude about speaking in order to achieve long-term results. Selmar notes that not all speech-language pathologists have similar preparation or experience in stuttering, and that some are better than others at working with people who have fluency disorders. Accordingly, he presents a practical section suggesting criteria for selecting professional assistance for a child, stressing again that parents should make certain that a treatment program deals not only with increasing fluency, but also with reducing fear and avoidance. What parents should and should not do in response to their child’s fluency breaks is reasonable and clearly stated. Selmar also provides a unique and well-written description of what parents should reasonably expect from a speech-language pathologist and the process of remediation. Several portions of this section will be of special interest to student clinicians. The final section of the pamphlet provides information to classroom teachers to enable them to identify students who stutter, to interact with speech-language pathologists, and to assist the stutterer in the classroom situation. Although some of this information has appeared in other sources, this section is a requirement for any publication addressing the young school-age stutterer. In summary, this pamphlet by Mr. Selmar is a good addition to the clinical literature. It is a clearly written and comprehensive explanation
232
BOOK REVIEWS
of both stuttering behavior and the cognitive aspects of the young stutterer. The discussions of criteria for selecting professional services, and the explanation of behavioral and attitude change during treatment are particularly good. This pamphlet, along with other sources, would be ideal for use during an in-service presentation in a school setting.
Help! My Child Is Starting to Stutter.
J. W. Selmar. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed, pages. Reviewed by W. MANNING,
PH.D.
Department of Audiology and Speech Memphis State University Memphis, TN
Puthology
1989, $2.50, 30
This 30-page pamphlet is the first in a series of two publications intended to provide basic information about the characteristics of stuttering in young children. The purpose of this booklet is to help parents prevent their young preschool-age child from becoming a chronic stutterer. The second pamphlet (published in 1991 by Pro-Ed. Inc.) addresses some of the same issues but is focused on the young school-age chronic stutterer. Although the information in both publications is primarily addressed to the parents of these children there are many suggestions that the classroom teacher and speech-language pathologist will find useful. The author, John Selmar, indicates that he has worked with young stutterers and their parents for more than 35 years. His experience becomes obvious when reading through these pamphlets. It’s clear that Mr. Selmar knows stuttering and understands children who stutter and his suggestions to parents and classroom teachers reflect this insight. He shows a sensitivity for the plight of the parents who find their child beginning to stutter. He explains the circumstances of stuttering and provides useful recommendations without sounding dogmatic and insensitive to the daily challenges of parenting. The initial portion of the pamphlet contains a presentation of the primary information concerning the development of normal speech and fluency breaks in young speakers. In addition, the author provides clear definitions of terms such as stuttering, nonfluency and disfluency, primary and secondary stuttering, stammering, and cluttering. Also listed are suggestions about what parents should not do (e.g., don’t tell the child to stop stuttering; don’t indicate disapproval of the child’s speech, either verbally or nonverbally; don’t tell the child to relax). There is a longer
BOOK REVIEWS
Help! This Child is Stuttering.
J. W. Selmar. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed, pages.
1989, $3.00, 41
Reviewed by W. MANNING, PH.D.
Depurtmrnt qf Audiology Memphis State University Memphis, TN
und Speech
Pathology
This 41-page pamphlet is intended to provide information to parents and teachers of school-age children who stutter, so they can better relate to and help the stuttering child. Information, organization, and style of the presentation accomplish these goals. The author also does a commendable job of achieving another stated goal, assisting parents in diminishing the mystery associated with stuttering. The initial section explains basic terminology used with fluency and fluency disorders, including an explanation of the natural variability of fluency. The author then stresses the importance of understanding (and eventually changing) the attitudes and feelings that are at the core of the stuttering experience. The importance of dealing with avoidance behavior during treatment is stressed, as well as changing the speaker’s attitude about speaking in order to achieve long-term results. Selmar notes that not all speech-language pathologists have similar preparation or experience in stuttering, and that some are better than others at working with people who have fluency disorders. Accordingly, he presents a practical section suggesting criteria for selecting professional assistance for a child, stressing again that parents should make certain that a treatment program deals not only with increasing fluency, but also with reducing fear and avoidance. What parents should and should not do in response to their child’s fluency breaks is reasonable and clearly stated. Selmar also provides a unique and well-written description of what parents should reasonably expect from a speech-language pathologist and the process of remediation. Several portions of this section will be of special interest to student clinicians. The final section of the pamphlet provides information to classroom teachers to enable them to identify students who stutter, to interact with speech-language pathologists, and to assist the stutterer in the classroom situation. Although some of this information has appeared in other sources, this section is a requirement for any publication addressing the young school-age stutterer. In summary, this pamphlet by Mr. Selmar is a good addition to the clinical literature. It is a clearly written and comprehensive explanation
232
BOOK REVIEWS
of both stuttering behavior and the cognitive aspects of the young stutterer. The discussions of criteria for selecting professional services, and the explanation of behavioral and attitude change during treatment are particularly good. This pamphlet, along with other sources, would be ideal for use during an in-service presentation in a school setting.
Help! My Child Is Starting to Stutter.
J. W. Selmar. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed, pages. Reviewed by W. MANNING,
PH.D.
Department of Audiology and Speech Memphis State University Memphis, TN
Puthology
1989, $2.50, 30
This 30-page pamphlet is the first in a series of two publications intended to provide basic information about the characteristics of stuttering in young children. The purpose of this booklet is to help parents prevent their young preschool-age child from becoming a chronic stutterer. The second pamphlet (published in 1991 by Pro-Ed. Inc.) addresses some of the same issues but is focused on the young school-age chronic stutterer. Although the information in both publications is primarily addressed to the parents of these children there are many suggestions that the classroom teacher and speech-language pathologist will find useful. The author, John Selmar, indicates that he has worked with young stutterers and their parents for more than 35 years. His experience becomes obvious when reading through these pamphlets. It’s clear that Mr. Selmar knows stuttering and understands children who stutter and his suggestions to parents and classroom teachers reflect this insight. He shows a sensitivity for the plight of the parents who find their child beginning to stutter. He explains the circumstances of stuttering and provides useful recommendations without sounding dogmatic and insensitive to the daily challenges of parenting. The initial portion of the pamphlet contains a presentation of the primary information concerning the development of normal speech and fluency breaks in young speakers. In addition, the author provides clear definitions of terms such as stuttering, nonfluency and disfluency, primary and secondary stuttering, stammering, and cluttering. Also listed are suggestions about what parents should not do (e.g., don’t tell the child to stop stuttering; don’t indicate disapproval of the child’s speech, either verbally or nonverbally; don’t tell the child to relax). There is a longer