Fluency Shaping

Question 1

What program did Dahm (1997) create?

Answer 1

Computer-assisted fluency shaping program
Speech-processing therapy
Client attends to vocal fold vibrations- creating constant air flow
Individual work stations with microphone
Routine-based
Must get a certain number or reps right in a row in order to move on (set order, pre-determined # of trials)

Question 2

What are the 6 steps in Dahm’s program?

Answer 2

1. Simple to complex processing (easing into heavier cognitive load)
2. Short to long utterances (beginning w/ sound isolation)
3. Slow to normal rate (dragging out vowels at first)
4. Intentional behaviors to habitual (starts out deliberate with hopes that it will become habitual)
5. Low anxiety situations to high (starts with clinician in therapy builds up to phone, drive-thru, etc.)
6. Clinician-evaluated to self-evaluated (really should come in much sooner!!)

Question 3

What program did Webster (1966) create?

Answer 3

Precision Fluency Shaping
still an operating program
intensive, live-in, computer assisted (3 weeks)
Targets placed in a sequence
Operant Conditioning (punishment/reward)

Question 4

What are the 5 steps in Webster’s program?

Answer 4

1. Vowels (computer monitoring air flow- easy onset)
2. Voiced continuants
3. Voiceless continuants
4. Plosives
5. Voice Monitor

Question 5

What program did Onslow and Packman (1997) create?

Answer 5

The goal is controlled stuttering (“once a stutterer, always a stutterer”). Only changes based on how much control you have.
“Easy talking”
FOCUS: improved fluency
Best at long-term tracking: 20 years + success rate

Question 6

What did Onslow and Packman identify as the 5 pre-treatment issues?

Answer 6

1. Quality of Life- will their QOL improve with therapy? (based on client’s assessment, not mine)
2. Drive and Determination
3. Anxiety or stuttering- is client generally anxious in all aspects of life or is it specifically based on stuttering?
4. Sufficiently organized- do they have time to come to therapy and practice their techniques?
5. Self or others motivated- is the client the one who really wants the therapy?