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Do People Stutter When Alone? (Episode 178 - Monday)
Download | Duration: 00:07:54
Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson discuss Ari's great question, Do people stutter when they are alone?"
Click here to join the conversation. 
Eye Contact and Stuttering (Episode 178 - Sunday)
Download | Duration: 00:05:16
Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson discuss a wonderful question from Jamie Rocchio. Jamie writes:"Eyecontact is stressed over and over again. It is important for goodcommunication and a way to connect with the person you are speakingwith. What if your listener is having great difficulty listening toyou and shows this through facial grimaces, looking away, clenchingtheir fists, etc. You are in a long block, you attempt to maintain eyecontact, you see your listeners expressions, which triggers an uneasyfeeling in you, so what do you do? Maintain eye contact and watch themstruggle with YOUR speech or look away because it becomes toouncomfortable for you to bear?”
Click here to join the conversation.
Pagoclone Updates, A Clinical Study and Stuttering with Dr. Gerald Maguire (Episode 177)
Download | Duration: 00:48:59
Dr. Gerald Maguire from the Kirkup Center for the Medical Treatment of Stuttering joins Peter Reitzes and Eric Jacksonto discuss Pagoclone updates, the recently published Exploratory Randomized Clinical Study of Pagoclone, the potential marketing of Pagoclone, his work with Dr. Nan Bernstein Ratner on the DSM5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and much more.
StutterTalk is planning a week of daily episodes. Please send us your questions and comments so we can consider using them for this special week of shows.
Eric announced the National Stuttering Association's new chatper for children at Brooklyn College:
NEW KIDS/TWST CHAPTER (kids 3-18 who stutter)– Brooklyn, New York - First meeting is February 10th 7:00-8:30PM at Brooklyn College, 3407 Boylan Hall - 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, 11210.Parents or SLPs accompanying a child/teen may attend - No younger siblings or visitors. This is a childrens'/teens’ meeting. More information contact, Dr. Renee Fabus rfabus@brooklyn.cuny.edu or Rosaline Zelkin, at rzelkin1@gmail.com.
Click here to join the conversation.
Positive Changes at LinguiSystems: An Ethics and Stuttering Update (Episode 176)
Download | Duration: 00:04:57
StutterTalk co-hosts Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson report that there are some very positive changes being made at the LinguiSystems website. LinguiSystems has removed the “Outcomes Guaranteed” symbol/logo. In addition, “Guaranteed Outcomes” have been changed to “Outcomes.” We applaud Linda Bowers and Rosemary Huisingh, the co-owners of LinguiSystems, for making these very positive changes. We also want to thank the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for responding to the concerns in the petition and to the concerns I sent the Board of Directors.We hope this is the beginning of similar changes in the way in which products and services are marketed to people who stutter by other companies and professionals. Again, we want to thank and applaud LinguiSystems for making the changes they have made.
Today (January 27, 2010), Peter closed the petition started on this matter because the petition seems to have served its purpose. LinguiSystems is making positive changes and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has responded productively to the concerns expressed in the petition. We wish to thank the many people who signed and supported this petition and cause.
The back story to the issue may be heard on StutterTalk episode 173.
This episode was recorded and published January 27, 2010.
Join the discussion at the StutterTalk Facebook page
A Petition on Ethics and Professionals Who Make Fun of Stuttering (Episode 175)
Download | Duration: 01:00:53
During episode 173, Peter and Eric discussed their concerns with how LinguiSystems promotes some of their materials with "Guaranteed Outcomes" and with how indifferently and lightly the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association appears to treat its own, self imposed, Code of Ethics. Please read the petition regarding this matter. If you agree with the petition and would like to sign, send an email to Peter Reitzes, MA CCC-SLP - preitzes@yahoo.com. Please provide your name and credentials exactly as you wish them to appear.
During this episode (175) Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson are joined by Kristel Kubart to discuss the petition mentioned above and the "interesting" and troubling comments made by Laura Mize, pediatric speech-language pathologist and Kate Hensler during their Teach Me to Talk with Laura and Kate podcast. We also discuss the downsides of the stuttering social filter, the relationship between stuttering and nervousness and much more.
Predictions for 2010 from the Stuttering Brain (Episode 174)
Download | Duration: 01:12:44
Dr. Tom Weidig from the popular Stuttering Brain Blog joins Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson to discuss his stuttering predictions for 2010. Dr. Weidig discusses his predictins regarding Pagoclone, research on preschool therapy, brain imaging studies and much more. Then Tom joins Peter and Eric to answer some questions from listeners.
ASHA, LinguiSystems, The Code of Ethics and Stuttering (Episode 173)
Download | Duration: 00:58:39
StutterTalk wants to celebrate and remind everyone that Monday, January the 18th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. During today's episode Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson discuss our thoughts and concerns regarding the LinguiSystems "Outcomes Guaranteed" statement and "Guaranteed Outcomes." We discuss our strong concerns regarding the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's initial response and urge ASHA to look closely at its Code of Ethics. We discuss the financial aspects of this situation and strongly urge ASHA to voluntarily and proactively look into such matters and to launch investigations when necessary. A fuller show summary with links to web pages and documents discussed are available below so that listeners and the public can decide for themselves.
Peter wrote a letter to the Board of Directors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association which is available here at the Stuttering Brain Blog.
During Episode 173 of StutterTalk we review StutterTalk episode 171 in which we discussed LinguiSystems' statement on "Outcomes Guaranteed!" The LinguiSystems products discussed are Easy Does It for Fluency: Preschool/Primary with a guaranteed outcome of "Use easy speech in real-life speaking situations" and Fluency Card Games which boasts a guaranteed outcome of "Speak confidently."
Then we discuss the fact that LinguiSystems' Co-owners/Founders, Linda Bowers & Rosemary Huisingh, are both speech-language pathologists and members of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and are therefore bound by the ASHA Code of Ethics. The LinguiSystems website states that LinguiSytems is "the first company to be founded and operated by speech-language pathologists."
According to ASHA’s Code of Ethics,“Individuals shall not guarantee the results of any treatment or procedure, directly or by implication...”, “Individuals' statements to the public…shall not contain misrepresentations.”, “Individuals shall not misrepresent…products dispensed...” and “Individuals shall not engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation…”
On the surface it appears that advertisements used by LinguiSystems, a company owned by two ASHA members who are speech-language pathologists, may directly violate ASHA's Code of Ethics in regards to their guaranteed outcomes.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation receive revenue and donations from LinguiSystems. For example, The ASHA Leader runs LinguiSystems advertisements. LinguiSystems is a vendor at ASHA conventions and sells its products at ASHA conventions. LinguiSystems gives tens of thousands of dollars (if not more) to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation and is featured as a"Generous Supporter" on the Foundation's website. StutterTalk has invited several prominent members and representatives of ASHA to join us on air at StutterTalk to publicly discuss these issues so that ASHA may share their views and clarify their positions on ethics,advertising and related matters.
StutterTalk reports that Linda Bowers (co-owner of LinguiSystems) is past President and past Board Member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation as can be verified on the Foundation's 990 Forms linked to below.
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation's 2002 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation's 2003 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation's 2004 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation's 2005 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation's 2006 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's 2004 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's 2005 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's 2006 Form 990
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's 2007 Form 990
- ASHA's Audited Financial Statement: 2008
- ASHA's Audited Financial Statement: 2007
- ASHA's Audited Financial Statement: 2006
- ASHA's Audited Financial Statement: 2005
In 2008, as we said, it appears that ASHA's program expenses on ethics was $347, 956. It appears that in 2008, ASHA's program expenses on multicultural affairs was$872, 533 - more than twice the amount of the program expenses for ethics. In our opinion, multicultural affairs are certainly important,but they are not twice as important as ethics.
In ASHA's 2007 990 Form it is reported that ASHA's Executive Director received $269, 998 in compensation and $173,260 in compensation paid to employee benefit plans and deferred compensation plans. In total then, it appears that the Executive Director of ASHA made $443,258 in total compensation, which is more then the 2008 ASHA program expenses on ethics. It is suggested that ASHA's program expenses on ethics may benefit from being higher then the total compensation given to ASHA's Executive Director.
We urged ASHA to:
- Look into LinguiSystems and their "Outcomes Guaranteed" and "Guaranteed Outcomes" statements and promotions.
- Put ethics and ethical considerations before financial considerations, to
- Initiate ethical investigations on its own and to fully accept its role in enforcing the Code of Ethics, to
- Carefully screen and take notice of the actions of donors and companies ASHA does business with, and
- Take its own Code of Ethics seriously.
This episode was recorded January 16, 2010 and published January 17, 2010.
Making Decisions in Speech Therapy (Episode 172)
Download | Duration: 00:57:09
Jamie Rocchio joins Eric Jackson to discuss making choices in speech therapy, resistance to change, stuttering acceptance, and much more. If you are interested in finding a speech therapist, check out The Stuttering Foundation website. StutterTalk Co-host Peter Reitzes is in the production booth for this episode.
"Guaranteed Outcomes" and Stuttering (Episode 171)
Download | Duration: 00:46:22
Co-hosts Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson start this episode with Peter' "soapbox" on LinguiSystems' statement on "Outcomes Guaranteed!" The LinguiSystems products discussed are Easy Does It for Fluency: Preschool/Primary with a guaranteed outcome of "Use easy speech in real-life speaking situations" and Fluency Card Games which boasts a guaranteed outcome of "Speak confidently." Then Eric and Peter answer emails from Bethany and Brian and discuss the statement "I want to be fluent" from episode 169.
Empathy, Forward Moving Speech and Stuttering with Dr. Robert Quesal (Episode 170)
Download | Duration: 01:30:21
Dr. Robert Quesal joins Peter Reitzes to discuss empathy, forward moving speech, utilizing normal speech, the difference between forward moving speech and stuttering modification, Dean William's therapy approach, Lidcombe speech therapy and much more. Be sure and visit Dr. Quesal at his personal homepage. StutterTalk Co-host Eric Jackson is in the production booth for this episode.
- February 12, 2010, at the annual convention of the Illinois Speech Language Association. Bob's presentation is titled The (Relatively) Few Things SLPs Need to Know to Provide High-Quality Stuttering Therapy (click the link for the handout)
- March 2010 at the College of St. Rose (details soon)
- "Empathy Based Practice" in Stuttering
- Dean Williams' Approach to Stuttering Therapy: Forward Moving Speech
- Understanding the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (audio) 2003 Panel Discussion from ASHA Convention
- We're All in This Together (article)
- We're All in This Together (audio) - 1998 Keynote address at the National Stuttering Project (now NSA)
- Recovery (audio) - 1996 Panel Discussion from the ASHA convention
- What is Successful Stuttering Therapy
- The Role of the Client in Stuttering Therapy
Dr. Quesal strongly recommends this wonderful article by Dean Williams titled A Point of View about Stuttering.
A Roundtable Discussion with Teenagers Who Stutter (Episode 169)
Download | Duration: 01:12:31
* Meet others who stutter
* Tips for parents
* Learn to increase your confidence communicating
* Nationwide panel of children/teens who stutter
* Parent roundtables
* Video Story-telling
* High school, college and career talks
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What Interferes with Forward Moving Speech (Episode 168)
Download | Duration: 00:34:30
This is the third and final show that StutterTalk recorded in Albany, New York. Dr. Joe Klein (pictured below with daughter Gretta) joins Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson to discuss Dean Williams' therapy and thoughts on stuttering, harnessing "normal" or non-stuttered speech, identifying what interferes with forward moving speech and much, much more.
We discuss aspects of these two articles:
- Dean Williams' Approach to Stuttering Therapy: Forward Moving Speech by Robert Quesal
- A Point of View about Stuttering by Dean Williams
The Best of Stuttering 2009, Checking in with Jamie and Getting to Know Steve Marchant (Episode 167)
Download | Duration: 01:19:29
Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson each discuss their top five stuttering lists of 2009 . Then Jamie Rocchio joins the boys for the last Checking in with Jamie segment of 2009. Later in the show StutterTalk records a conversation up in Albany, New York with Dr. Joe Klein and Steve Marchant about Steve's life with stuttering. StutterTalk is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax exempt organization.
Peter and Eric discuss their top five stuttering influences of 2009.
Peter's best of list:
5. Bob Quesal's article titled Dean Williams' Approach to Stuttering Therapy: 'Forward Moving Speech'
4. Dean Williams 'classic article from 1957 titled A Point of View about Stuttering
3. Two articles by Nan Bernstein Ratner on Evidence Based Practice
- Evidence-Based Practice in Stuttering: Some Questions to Consider
- Evidence-Based Practice: An Examination of Its Ramifications for the Practice of Speech-Language Pathology
1. Two articles by C. Woodruff Starkweather and Janet Givens
- Stuttering as an Experience
- Stuttering as a Variant of of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: What We Can Learn
5. The mocking of a person who stutters by Sheila Johnson.
4. Voices: Past and Present from Judy Kuster's Stuttering Homepage
3. StutterTalk episodes featuring family members
- Eric's mom on StutterTalk
- Peter's mom on StutterTalk
- Eric's brother on StutterTalk
- Kristel's father on StutterTalk
1. The Stuttering Revolution
The Stuttering Orgasm (Episode 166)
Download | Duration: 00:55:30
StutterTalk takes the show on the road this week and records up in Albany, New York. Dr. Joe Klein and Steven Marchant join Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson to discuss the question "Where are all the stutterers?", the terms people who stutter and stutterer, the difficulty of measuring stuttering and progress made in therapy, the Stuttering Orgasm and much more. StutterTalk is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax exempt organization.
- Person First Language with Ken St. Louis
- Dr. Ken St. Louis on Living with Stuttering, Person-First Language and Cluttering
The Treatment of Stuttering (Episode 165)
Download | Duration: 01:11:59
Peter Reitzes and Eric Jackson discuss this Study Guide for Van Riper's seminal book The Treatment of Stuttering compiled by Darrell M. Dodge. They also discuss this interview with Byron Pitts, a new stuttering character from the South Park television show (see video below), person first language, several phone calls, the terms person who stutters and stutterer, a Facebook message from Joel Korte regarding altered speech feedback devices and this research article about one such device.We announced this March 5, 2010 course by Dr. Scott Yaruss titled Effective Treatment for School-Age Children Who Stutter: An Advanced Course.