What did I learn from my visit to the Glasgow group?
That stammering is unbelievably effortful and that speaking is effortless.
Why?
Because the PWS is doing a great many things in their head, and when pushed and given no time to think the internal dialogue has to stop and so, like the rest of us, the PWS speaks effortlessly to get his point across.
I have also noticed this before with PWS. When not given the luxury of time to plan and second guess and go internal: speaking becomes effortless. When the attention is directed beyond, to the topic or the other person or group, speech becomes effortless.
I think we should stop talking about fluency or ‘normal’ speech and instead look to EFFORTLESSLY SPEAK. You have to work to be fluent but you can speak effortlessly - toddlers do and so did most PWS did before they didn't.
As with blushing: we can’t effortfully not blush, it has to be effortless and when we don’t make an effort we don’t blush!!
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4 comments:
Peter,
I fully accept that your comments reflect accurately your experience of the Glasgow group. However all stammering is not the same, is it not possible to stammer without effort?. what about the "stammering more fluently" approach?
John
Hi John
It might be possible to stammer in many ways but of the PWS I have met I think I have the rights of it.
When I observe PWS I see folk who are trying to overcome an 'obstacle' and I am interested in what that obstacle is. I think it arises from interference with their speech because they are doing a lot more thinking than I am when I speak. Much of this will have become habit and unconscious.
As to the 'stammer more fluently' approach: it presupposes stammering! If speaking effortlessly were to be presupposed instead, then what else would need to be there, and how would that change the approach.
All the best
Peter
Peter, I asked the original question because when I suggested more effort was required to stammer on another group I was strongly opposed.
If speaking effortlessly was the approach the attention would be on the content. The approach would lack the anxiety, fear of failure etc etc. But, I'm open to your suggestions.
Hi John
I agree with you. The only effort I put into speech is occasionally when I want to articulate and move my mouth more actively rather than mumble although most people mumble quite a lot of the time.
Peter
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