by Anisah Islam, Lauren Plasencia, and Austin Thompson
Description
Voluntary stuttering (or pseudostuttering) is when you purposely insert stutter-like disfluencies into speech, with the goal of putting stuttering out in the open to help a person feel in control of the stutter. Voluntary stuttering is a technique that can be used to reduce fear, anxiety, and negative emotions associated with stuttering (Byrd et al., 2016). There are different ways to stutter voluntarily:
- Imitation of the Client's Stuttering: Stuttering in a way that is an accurate representation of your stutter.
- Bouncing: a type of easy, effortless repetition (used with SSRs & WWRs).
- Sliding: an easy, effortless prolongation (used with ISPs & ASPs).
However, the most benefit of this technique is observed when clients voluntarily stutter in a way that imitates their stuttering (Byrd et al., 2016).
Voluntary stuttering is most appropriate for adolescents and adults. However, this approach focuses on purposefully stuttering, which would be best for populations with enhanced self-awareness of their stuttering and how it affects their lives. Voluntarily stuttering involves imitating your stuttering and other stuttering that target different patterns of stuttering. Additionally, research states that the effectiveness relies on the client using this daily. Therefore, it may be more difficult for younger clients to grasp and use this concept consistently.
- Prerequisite Skills: Before engaging in this activity, clients should have a basic understanding of their stuttering patterns and how they affect their daily communication and life. To fully engage in this technique, clients must be willing to practice, explore challenges and beliefs about stuttering, and enhance their self-awareness of their stuttering.
- Hierarchy: After completing this activity, a potential next step would be to practice these strategies in daily situations (outside of the clinic) to become more comfortable with one's stuttering.
- Considerations: One thing to remember is that clients may not initially like or perceive the benefits of the strategy. This strategy may not be comfortable and may seem nerve-wracking as it targets many internal factors of stuttering. A clinician should be prepared to react appropriately to discomfort or resistance during the activity. It is essential to create a supportive and safe space for the client as they may have emotional reactions or resistance during this activity.
Overarching Goal
The goal of voluntary stuttering is to desensitize and reduce negative feelings and behaviors about stuttering while fostering acceptance and confidence.
This technique falls under the broader approach of stuttering modification, which includes identifying the stuttering pattern, desensitizing to moments of stuttering, and modifying stuttering speech. Voluntary stuttering is a strategy to desensitize stuttering moments that may evoke fear or avoidance of the stutter.
Example Activity: Wheel of Role Play
Evidence
Voluntary stuttering is a technique that can reduce fear, anxiety, and/or negative emotions associated with stuttering (Byrd et al., 2016). It is also used to decrease loss of control during the moment of stuttering.
Pseudostuttering can be used when the individual might fear the occurrence of real moments of stuttering (e.g., Tichenor, Herring, & Yaruss, 2022). This activity will include role-playing situations that may invoke fear, avoidance, and anxiety. Voluntary stuttering can be an effective and empowering tool for improving communication skills, reducing anxiety, and building confidence in one's ability to speak openly.
Materials Needed
Maone'sls for this activity include:
- Scenario cards (prepared in advance and adapted based on the client)
- Created by the clinician based on the client's interview
- Created by the client independeclient'sated by the client and clinician in conjunction
- Created by the client and clinician in conjunction
- Random situations that may invoke fear/avoidance of stuttering
- Tiny Decisions on the App Store
- This app allows you to input scenarios, making it more game-based and interactive.
- Handout: Role-playing scenarios
Instructions
In this activity, clients will use the “wheel of role-play” to practice how they might voluntarily stutter in” the target scenario.
