This document summarizes preliminary research on the effects of the SpeechEasy electronic device on stuttering. The study involved testing 11 participants both with and without the device in different settings and ear placements. Initial findings showed the device had more influence on stuttering during reading and narration than conversation. Some participants exhibited greater effects with the device in the left versus right ear. There was also significant variation between individuals. Further research is needed to better understand how specific device settings and biological factors impact responses.

1. www.stutteringhelp.org • 800-992-9392 • www.tartamudez.org
T HE S TUTTERING F OUNDATION
A Nonprofit Organization SUMMER 2009 Since 1947... Helping Those Who Stutter
Research on
Electronic
Devices:
Preliminary Results
By Anne L. Foundas, M.D. and
Edward G. Conture, Ph.D. National Stuttering
Awareness Week
Developmental stuttering has a
lifetime incidence (i.e., percent- May 11-17
age of adults who stuttered at
some point) of nearly 5% and is
one of the more
y of NFL
common develop-
mental speech dis-
Pho tos cou rtes
orders. Although
the disorder sig-
nificantly im-
pacts the academ-
ic, emotional, so-
Anne L. cial and vocation-
Foundas, M.D. al achievements,
development and
potential of indi-
viduals who stut-
Chargers Star Darren Sproles
ter, important Breaks Records On and Off the Field
questions remain Darren Sproles, the Stuttering Off the field, he’s reached a
regarding factors Foundation’s spokesman for record-breaking number of kids
that cause, exac- National Stuttering Awareness and adults who stutter with a
erbate and/or Week, posted the second-best message of help. In fact, the
Edward G.
Conture, Ph.D. maintain stutter- yard gain in Chargers post-sea- Foundation’s Web site,
ing. Likewise, the son history in a January 3 game www.stutteringhelp.org, has
efficaciousness of various treat- against the Colts. He also became recorded more than 2 million hits
ments for stuttering remains a the player with the third most in the four weeks leading up to
source of vigorous debate as well yards of any player in a single the May 11th awareness week.
as investigation. Among such post-season game in NFL history. Continued on page 6
Continued on page 2
The Impact of ADHD on Stuttering Therapy
By Joseph Donaher, Ph.D., studies have shown that stut- but research has suggested
The Center for Childhood tering runs in families and that both may be causal fac-
Communication, that approximately 70% of tors for some individuals
The Children’s Hospital the variance in liability to who stutter, especially those
of Philadelphia stutter can be accounted for with no family history of
through inheritable factors1,2. stuttering3,4. Furthermore, it
The role of genetic factors The contribution of congeni- has been suggested that
in the onset and maintenance tal factors and early neuro- when no genetic component
of stuttering has received con- logical incidents has been is present, adults who stutter
siderable attention. Multiple less thoroughly investigated Continued on page 4
Joseph Donaher, Ph.D.

2. THE
STUTTERING
2 www.stutteringhelp.org FOUNDATION 800-992-9392
George Cooley Research Continued from front page fications, the audiometric (e.g.,
frequency characteristics) proper-
treatments, altered-auditory feed-
Remembered back (AAF) has received consid- ties of the SpeechEasy as well as
erable attention in recent years. its potential influence on stuttering
1931-2009 in AWS. Specifically, we have at-
With advances in digital tech-
Longtime Stuttering Foundation nology, one such AAF device, tempted to assess how this device
Board member George Cooley the SpeechEasy, has been designed influences stuttering in adults with
passed away on and marketed to treat stuttering. persistent developmental stutter-
Feb. 20, 2009. This small de- ing (PDS) as
George and his vice is worn like well as the ex-
wife, Jeanette, a hearing aid and tent to which
founded Mercury can be adjusted device settings
Printing Company in terms of de- and the use of
in Memphis, layed auditory the device in the
where George feedback (DAF) left versus the
revolutionized as well as fre- right ear con-
Stuttering Found- George Cooley quency altered Testing the electronic device. tributes to this
ation materials - everything from feedback (FAF) influence.
books to brochures to posters and parameters, and volume. To date, eleven participants (PDS
newsletters. According to the SpeechEasy’s as- = 7, Controls = 4) have been exam-
“George knew everything sociated marketing literature, such ined without the device in place
there was to know about the AAF adjustments of the auditory (baseline), with the device in place
printing business and was also a sidetone for speech mimic the ef- but not on, with the device in place
superlative teacher,” said Jane fects of choral reading. Results of using manufacturer-suggested and
Fraser. “Not a day goes by that I empirical studies can be taken to manufacturer-independent settings,
don’t put to use something he suggest that this device is effective and in each ear independently.
taught me.” for at least some adults who stutter Reading, narrative, and conversa-
George was committed to help- (AWS; References 1-6). tional speech-language production
ing others who stutter and is sore- We have recently initiated an were examined for each partici-
ly missed by all who were fortu- empirical study to characterize, in- pant. For this initial study, we lim-
nate enough to know him and dependent of manufacturer speci- ited our sample to right-handed
work with him over the years. K men ages 20 to 40 years who do
(PDS) and do not (controls) stutter.
Individual performance profiles
were examined in relation to
Annual Audit of Foundation baseline output and results were
The annual audit of the fund raising are very low, and computed as a proportion of ut-
Stuttering Foundation financial since we are fortunate to have an terances (stuttering events in the
reports for 2008 was recently endowment which more than first 300 syllables in each speak-
completed by the accounting covers our overhead expenses, ing condition).
firm of Cannon and Company, donors can be assured that their Preliminary findings indicate
Certified Public Accountants, gifts will go directly to support that the device has more influence
Memphis, Tenn. Following is a our program services. on stuttering frequency during nar-
recap of funds and expenditures The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) ration and reading than during
for the year. private operating foundation which conversational speech but that this
The 3.5% of expenditures for expends its funds on its own pro- effect interacts with which ear the
administration and general ex- grams and operations and does not device is worn on. That is, some
penses and the 7/10 of 1% for make grants to other institutions. participants exhibited more effect
Funds expended for: with the device in the left versus
Creation, production, printing and distribution right ears. As has been shown with
of educational materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $567,362 . . . . . . . 37.8% previous studies, there is also con-
Public information and education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336,805 . . . . . . . 22.4%
Educational symposia for professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184,657 . . . . . . . . 12.3% siderable variation among partici-
Research on causes/treatment of stuttering and therapy . . . . . . . . . 261,958 . . . . . . . . 17.4% pants. The extent to which the
Maintain Web site and toll-free information hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88,293 . . . . . . . . . 5.9% placebo effect can account for at
Total for Program Services:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,439,075 . . . . . . 95.8%
Other expenditures:
least some of these findings is still
Administration and general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53,276 . . . . . . . . . 3.5% under investigation.
Fund-raising expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,208 . . . . . . . . 0.7% In summary, our preliminary
Total Expenditures: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,502,559 . . . . . . . 100%
Continued on page 3

3. THE
STUTTERING
SUMMER 2009 FOUNDATION 800-992-9392 3
Research Continued from page 2
results appear to indicate that the
SpeechEasy device can influence
PSAs Produce a Harvest
stuttering during at least reading The Foundation has been News & Financial
and narration, but that there is con- hearing from readers across
siderable individual variation in its America … in rural areas as
effect. It is thought important to de- well as suburbs and large cities
termine whether specific settings, … through the medium of
ear placement or other biological fruit, vegetable, and crop farm-
factors impact users’ response to ing magazines. Reaching a
the device. Preliminary findings varied group of people in rural,
were taken to suggest that changes often isolated areas is particu-
in stuttering, at least for some larly rewarding.
adults who stutter, may be related Other magazines and newspa-
to changes in speech-language pers featured here have donated a
monitoring, something impacted record-breaking number of pub-
by AAF devices like the Speech lic service ads to the Foundation.
Easy. These findings do seem to Farming & Agriculture
support the need to further study
why this AAF device impacts stut- Time, The New York Post,
tering for some but not other PDS. Fortune, Technical Analysis of
Editor’s note: The Stuttering Stocks and Commodities, Georgia
Foundation is pleased to support Trend, The Philadelphia Inquirer,
this new research. and the Pittsburg Tribune-Review.
References
1. Armson J, Kiefte M, Mason J, De Croos D.
(2006) The effect of SpeechEasy on stuttering
frequency in laboratory conditions. J Fluency Sports
Disord. 31:137-152.
2. Armson J, Kiefte M. (2008) The effect of
SpeechEasy on stuttering frequency, speech rate,
& Style
and speech naturalness. J Fluency Disord.
33:120-134.
3. Kalinowski, J. (2003). Self-reported efficacy
of an all in-the-ear-canal prosthetic device to in-
hibit stuttering during one hundred hours of uni-
versity teaching. Disability and Rehabilitation,
25, 107–111. Corn & Soybean Digest, American
4. O'Donnell JJ, Armson J, Kiefte M. (2008) The ef- Vegetable Grower, Greenhouse
fectiveness of SpeechEasy during situations of daily
living. J Fluency Disord. 2008; 33:99-119. Grower, Western Fruit Grower,
5. Stuart, A., Kalinowski, J., Rastatter, M. P., and Soybean Digest.
Saltuklaroglu, T., & Dayalu, V. (2004).
Investigations of the impact of altered auditory
feedback in-the ear devices on the speech of peo-
Health
ple who stutter: Initial fitting and 4-month follow
up. International Journal of Language &
Communication Disorders, 39, 93–113.
6. Stuart, A, Kalinowski, J, Saltuklaroglu, T, &
Guntupalli, VK. (2006). Investigations of the im-
pact of altered auditory feedback in-the-ear de-
vices on the speech of people who stutter: One-
year follow-up. Disability and Rehabilitation,
28, 757–765. K
The American Journal of Public
Health, JAMA, American Journal of
Nursing and Dentistry Today. AARP magazine, Redbook,
Read Around the World Seventeen, New York
Stuttering Foundation press re- Technical Times Magazine, ESPN,
leases can be read worldwide! In Good Housekeeping,
fact, one article about V.P. Joe and Avenue Calgary.
Biden’s struggles with stuttering
was published in Equatorial 3Sound & Vision and Popular
Guinea, the only Spanish-speak- Photography.
ing country in Africa. K

4. THE
STUTTERING
4 www.stutteringhelp.org FOUNDATION 800-992-9392
ADHD speech-language pathologist’s
Continued from front page
Stuttering are more likely to present with in-
scope of practice to suggest
whether a family should or should
and Singing creased ADHD-like characteristics
possibly as a result of underlying
not pursue pharmacological inter-
vention, any significant changes
By Lisa Scott, Ph.D. neurological factors 3. in stuttering behaviors should be
While research linking reported to the medical
Answering young reader’s
stuttering with ADHD is lim- team. The team can then de-
question … see page 8
ited at best, preliminary re- termine whether to discon-
We don’t know for sure why
ports suggest that the preva- tinue the medication, alter
people don’t stutter when they
lence of ADHD among chil- the dosage or switch to
sing, but it’s probably a combi-
dren who stutter is signifi- a different medication.
nation of reasons:
cantly higher than in the Unfortunately, there are few
1. When you sing, you take
general population5,6. studies describing the effects
breaths in between measures.
Thus, research is needed of ADHD medications on
This means that the number of
to better understand this re- stuttering and much of the
words you say on one breath is
lationship in an attempt to clinical management must be
very specific. When you talk, on
identify risk factors, man- done on an ad-hoc basis.
the other hand, you can take
agement strategies and Lastly, speech-lan-
breaths wherever you want in the
possible neurological For more information guage pathologists
sentence. Sometimes, people
underpinnings of each on ADHD and should have a thorough
who stutter have a hard time
disorder. However, a stuttering, download understanding of ADHD
keeping their air going, so it
more pressing need re- this free brochure at and resources for fami-
makes talking harder.
lates to the clinical www.stutteringhelp.org. lies and professionals.
2. Different parts of our brains
management of chil- An excellent starting
help us think or act in special
dren who stutter who present with point is the brochure, ADHD and
ways. Most people’s center for
diagnosed ADHD or with subclini- Stuttering by the Stuttering
music is on the right side of their
cal levels of ADHD-like traits. Foundation. Additionally, therapists
brains, but the speech center is
The speech-language patholo- can utilize online resources like The
on the left side of the brain. This
means that the “controls” are dif- gist, working as part of a coordinat- Stuttering Homepage and Children
ferent for talking versus singing. ed multidisciplinary team, must and Adults with Attention Deficit
3. Another idea that might ex- consider the impact that ADHD Disorders – CHADD. By keeping
plain why people don’t stutter traits could have on an individual’s the lines of communication open be-
when they sing has to do with ability to succeed in therapy. For tween all team members, the speech-
how much you have to think of example, children with ADHD fre- language pathologist can increase
words on your own. When you quently struggle with monitoring carry-over and retention of the mate-
are talking, you have to have an their behaviors on-line, especially rial presented in therapy while limit-
idea, then pick out the words when challenged with time pres- ing the frustration and anxiety that
you’re going to use to tell some- sure7. Thus, a child with concomi- too often hinders progress.
one else your idea, then get your tant stuttering and ADHD may find 1. Felsenfeld, S., Kirk, K.M., Zhu, G., Statham, D.J.,
muscles and air going to be able it difficult to effectively monitor his Neale, M.C., & Martin, N.G. (2000). A study of the genet-
ic and environmental etiology of stuttering in a selected
to say the words. When you sing, speech and make corrections at the twin sample. Behavioral Genetics. Sep;30(5):359-66.
someone else has already thought moment of stuttering. In this case, 2. Yairi, E., Ambrose, N., & Cox N. (1996). Genetics
of stuttering: a critical review.
up all the words and it’s not your the child may fully understand Journal of Speech, Language, Hearing Research.
Aug;39(4):771-84.
own idea, another good reason what to do but his struggling would 3. Alm, P., A., & Risberg, J. (2007). Stuttering in
that sining is easier than talking. be related to consistently using adults: The acoustic startle response, temperamental traits,
and biological factors. Journal of Communication
We hope this helps answer what he knows in real-life situa- Disorders. 40, 1-41.
4. Poulos, M., & Webster, W. (1991). Family history
your question! K tions. Unfortunately, this could be as a basis for subgrouping people who stutter. Journal of
Speech and Hearing Research. 34, 5-10.
misinterpreted as the child not 5. Healey, E., C., & Reid, R. (2003). Tutorial on
wanting to use his strategies or Stuttering and ADHD. Journal of Fluency Disorders.
Volume 28, Number 2.
lacking motivation. 6. Biederman, J., Faraone, S.V., Spencer, T., Wilens,
T., Norman, D., Lapey, K.A., Mick, E., Lehman, B.K., &
As part of a new clinical study, Speech-language pathologists Doyle, A. (1993). Patterns of psychiatric comorbidity, cog-
researchers will test whether pago- must also monitor for any nition, and psychosocial functioning in adults with atten-
tion deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of
clone, an investigational medication changes in stuttering which could Psychiatry. Dec; 150(12): 1792-8.
7. Van Meel, C.S., Heslenfeld, D.J., Oosterlaan, J., &
for stuttering, may offer a way to be due to the use of psychostimu- Sergeant, J.A. (2007). Adaptive control deficits in atten-
achieve more fluent speech. lant medication which remains tion-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): the role of
error processing. June 30;151(3):211-20.
More details are available at the most common intervention for 8. Zuyekas, S., Vitiello, B., & Norguist, G. (2006). Recent
trends in stimulant medication use among U.S. children.
www.StutteringStudy.com. K ADHD8. While it is out of the American Journal of Pyschiatry. April; 163(4): 574-577. K

5. THE
STUTTERING
SUMMER 2009 FOUNDATION 800-992-9392 5
Eastern Workshop attendees Therapy has given me a great their children learn is an incredi-
were contacted six months after way to find out what my clients bly valuable tool, as well as
their 5-day training to see how have been doing since our last training the parents to focus on
each of them is using their training session to move themselves for- the things that are going right.”
in working with people who stutter. ward. I really like how the ques- “The parents had been so dis-
Here’s what they had to say … tioning leads them to solutions.” couraged in previous attempts at
“It has been an eye opening ex- “I use the rating scale that the therapy, and fully believed they
perience for my clients when they clients do by themselves all the time were doing everything wrong.
start identifying their Negative since it seems to give the client own- Their apparent confidence as par-
Automatic Thoughts and the im- ership on what they are or are not ents grew remarkably through the
pact it has on their stuttering. The doing to move themselves forward. time of our Solution Focused
cognitive model is also used to ad- The positive approach fits so well.” Therapy. They adore the special
dress specific problems along with “The best experience with the times with the child who stutters as
their fear and anxiety to break down Parent Child Interactive Therapy well as with his brother. The child
the ineffective safety net they had has been with a young boy. The re- decreased stuttering considerably.
previously created and develop an sults have really been two-fold ... He’s getting direct therapy now
effective replacement.” and his parents are con-
“I always start my ther- tinuing special times at
apy sessions with ‘What home. All are moving
are your best hopes for well toward their goals.”
today?’ which has been “What I have seen to be
shown to be such a high- most effective in my use
ly effective tool to ad- of Parent Child
dress their needs.” Interactive Therapy is
“The focus on posi- how the parents are now
tive behaviors and the
use of ‘special times’
Six Months Later ... feeling empowered
rather than helpless by
has provided the most frequent and his fluency has stabilized and mom looking at what interaction strate-
positive feedback from parents of feels more confident about stutter- gies help their child to become more
my preschoolers. It’s been such a ing therapy. During the video pro- fluent. Integrating ‘descriptive
pleasure to see the relief on their cess, several ‘lightbulb/aha’ mo- praise’ and ‘special time’ have been
faces simply because they can now ments occurred as we noticed what effective tools for parents.”
shift focus from stopping disfluen- was working. The ability to work “I find myself asking ‘And how
cy to examining the fluent times.” on one homework idea each week would that make a difference?’ and
“The way Parent Child made the plan feel manageable to ‘What else?’ in most of my conver-
Interactive Therapy is presented is her. When she identified ways to sations, including those with col-
exceptional--parents have told me build his confidence, allowed him leagues, student teachers and family
time and time again how ‘special to problem solve situations with- members. It sure beats ‘Well, I think
time’ not only helps to achieve flu- out her interference, and learned to you should ... blah, blah, blah.’ I
ent speech, but gives them the op- follow his lead in play, the fluency have a long way to go with this but
portunity to feel the burden and significantly increased. She also am in happy mode about it all.”
worry lifted from their shoulders learned to talk openly about his Editor’s note: Your donations
and revel in a truly special interac- fluency.” help to fund workshops like this one
tion with their child.” “Helping parents learn how to each year and in return hundreds of
“The Solution Focused Brief take responsibility in helping people who stutter are helped. K
Paperless e-Catalog Available
Stepping up with the newest for specific products, bookmark,
technology, the Stuttering make notes, and even link direct-
Foundation launched its e- ly to the Foundation’s Web store
Catalog this spring. to order by clicking on any item.
You can load it on your desk- If you would like to receive the
top, browse through the pages, e-Catalog link, just let us know -
zoom on items of interest, search info@stutteringhelp.org. K

6. THE
6 www.stutteringhelp.org
STUTTERING 800-992-9392
FOUNDATION
Volunteers Make a Difference
Carol Ecke, helped
by Connie Dugan, man
Charlie Osborne, seconded by Erin the Illinois state
Dyer, volunteer for the SFA booth at convention booth for the
the Wisconsion state convention. Stuttering Foundation.
Kavita Kaul and her student Nick
wowed the audience of attendees
at the Virgina state convention. Dorothy Olson,
April Brown
Kudos to the many volunteers who and Carol
give generously of their time and en- Schaefer visit Carl Dell and Carol Ecke
ergy in working exhibit booths the booth. with a copy of his semi-
across the country! Some volunteers nal book, Treating the
like SLPs Charlie Osborne and available at the Wisconsin and School-Age Child Who
Kavita Kaul not only work in the Virginia conventions. Stutters.
booth but also give input into what Susan Hamilton, of Washington
materials to send to the convention, state, is always a first-rate volunteer Foundation from the many attendees,
physically set up the booth, organize as she helps get the word out about many of whom remembered founder,
additional workers, and help man the the newest products on stuttering Malcolm Fraser. I also got feedback
booth throughout the event! treatment at the all-day Tacoma- on how our materials are helping
Charlie and Kavita contacted the NSA workshop. their clients.”
Foundation and asked if they could Terri Jones of the Foundation’s “Professional boother” and booster
volunteer for their state conventions. Memphis office reported, “It was a Carol Ecke continues her enthusiastic
Thanks to them - materials were privilege to represent SFA at the Mid- convention schedule and relates how
South Conference . I enjoyed hearing exciting it is for her to have SLPs and
stories of the early days of the students volunteering in the booth
alongside of her. K
Terri Jones brought SFA
Carol Ecke products to the University
worked her of Memphis NSSLHA
magic to get Conference.
the Stuttering
Foundation booth ready at Susan Hamilton in Tacoma, Wash.,
conferences in California. where Dr. Tricia Zebrowski presented
an all-day workshop on fluency.
Sproles Continued from front page lates, “I have been working on my
“We’ve been inundated with re- stuttering for 54 years and still
quests for the new poster featuring haven't conquered it, although I con- NFL
trol it well enough to host a weekly star
Darren “jumping off the page,”
radio talk show, conduct television running
said Pat Hamm at the SFA back
Memphis office. “We’ve never interviews and accept regular public
Darren
seen this kind of response before.” speaking engagements.”
Sproles
Newspaper editor Akwasi Evans For him, as for so many others, is featured
requested a copy of the new poster Darren Sproles stands out as an on this
for his office in Austin, Texas. He re- outstanding role model. K new poster.

7. THE
SUMMER 2009 STUTTERING 800-992-9392 7
FOUNDATION
Checklist Reaches Pediatricians
The American Academy of
Pediatrics will incorporate the
Stuttering Foundation Checklist
for Referral in their upcoming available not only to more than
2010 PREP Self Assessment pub- 30,000 pediatric residents but also
lication. It is a compilation of to all AAP subscribers through
clinically relevant review ques- print, online and CD-Rom.
tions and critiques based on the As a result, thousands of young
AAP Content Specifications for children who experience disfluen-
Maintenance of Certification. cies will be helped in a more time-
The checklist will be made ly manner. K
Malcolm Fraser Community Service June Campbell answers ques-
Award Presented in Memphis tions during a conference of
Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
By Cara Donahue cant contribution to the field of
communication disorders.
Each year the Malcolm Fraser This year’s award recipient, Pediatric Nurse
Community Service Award is Cindy Myers, as the mother of a
presented by the Mid-South child with special needs, is an ad-
Practitioners
Conference on Communicative vocate for not only her daughter, Undeterred
Disorders to an individual in the but other children with disabili-
Memphis community as a tribute ties in the Memphis area who are by Economy
to a man who contributed greatly also communicatively delayed. Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
to the field of com- A few years ago, flocked to San Diego from
municative disor- Cindy created both a throughout the country for
ders, namely in the social skills group their Annual Conference.
field of stuttering. and a Sunday School June Campbell visited with
Malcolm Fraser, group at Hope practitioners from more than 18
together with his Presbyterian Church states, including Massachusetts,
brother, was one of as a way to give these Georgia, Illinois, Arkansas,
the early founders of children the opportu- Utah, Florida, New Hampshire,
the NAPA Genuine nity to build commu- Minnesota and Texas.
Parts Company in nication skills. Laura Some nurses stopped by to
Atlanta in 1928. He Martin and several share how the Foundation’s
used the money from University of literature has helped their pa-
auto parts stock to Memphis speech tients, others were students
start the Stuttering pathology students who had not yet been exposed
Foundation of Cindy Myers (right) commented, “Cindy to the literature or Web site
America. Today the with her daughter has shown passion and others shared how they
Foundation reaches Gabriella, and Becky and commitment used books and brochures in
people in 126 coun- Jones, NSSLHA while organizing Nursing Education programs.
tries, and Mr. president. these programs. She June noted, “Some of my
Fraser’s book, Self has spent countless favorite conversations were
Therapy for the Stutterer, has hours working to provide chil- with children joining their
helped countless numbers of people dren with an accepting environ- mothers at the conference.
who struggle with stuttering. ment where they can develop They enjoyed asking ques-
The Malcolm Fraser Community communication skills at their tions about stuttering, sharing
Service Award honors his many ac- own pace.” about children they know who
complishments and unselfishness Cindy’s selfless attitude and stutter and looking at SFA’s
and is given to an individual who dedication exemplify the ideals books Trouble at Recess and
like Mr. Fraser has made a signifi- consistent with Mr. Fraser’s. K Sometimes I Just Stutter.” K

8. THE
STUTTERING
8 FOUNDATION
www.stutteringhelp.org 800-992-9392
Dear SFA: Reader Response
Send letters to SFA, P.O. Box 11749, Memphis, TN 38111-0749 or e-mail info@stutteringhelp.org.
Like a roller coaster sometimes I just want to pull my ter. To me, nothing is wrong with it.
Dear SFA: hair out. My stuttering usually is And I don’t care what people think
My name is Britney, and I’m 8 when I start to get really excited or about my stuttering.
years old. I have been stuttering really nervous. Damian
since I was 5 years old. When I Lizette Cache, Okla.
start to stutter my mom tells me Cache, Okla.
to think about what I’m going to Editor’s Note: See page 4 for a Stuttering feels like a ball
say before I talk. Every time I reply from Dr. Lisa Scott. Dear SFA:
stutter it feels like a roller My name is Jabaree. I’ve
coaster because when I been stuttering for 6 years
stutter the roller coaster and I’m through with it!
goes bump, bump, bump. My stuttering feels like a
That is why stuttering feels basketball. When the ball
like a roller coaster to me. bounces, I feel like I can’t
I get frustrated a lot be- get my words out. And when
cause when my cousins I shoot the ball, I drag my
tease me I start to stutter a words out. Dragging my
lot. But sometimes I try words and sliding are the
not to think about the teas- best ways I use to not stutter
ing and I try to calm down. as much. Some kids ask me
I tell them to stop teasing why I talk like that, and I tell
me because that will make them I stutter.
me stutter even more. And Joel (left) and Shawn, 10-year-old twins, cele- Most of them are my
now I’m starting to get bet- brated Pi Day by memorizing more than 150 friends, and they don’t
ter. One of the things I digits of Pi between the two of them. Pi Day is tease me. When I get
learned in speech is about celebrated by math enthusiasts around the teased, I try to ignore it and
eye contact. I am glad I am world on March 14, which is taken from the I don’t get mad.
in this speech class be- first three digits of the equation and happens to In all I’m OK and I like
cause I am starting to get be Einstein’s birthday. Shawn, who has been my life.
better at not stuttering. stuttering since a young age, has been doing Jabaree
Britney, 8 adult puzzles since he was 5 years old. Pamona, Calif.
Pomona, Calif.
Going down the road Speech teacher helps
Singing question Dear SFA: Dear SFA:
Dear SFA: My name is Greg. I’m 9 years Hi, my name is Derrik. I block
My name is Lizette. I would love old and in the third grade. I think sometimes. I feel OK about my
to tell you about my stuttering. stuttering is like a car on a road. speech. I repeat stuff a lot, but
Sometimes I get really frustrated If you stutter, you are going too sometimes I don’t repeat a lot. I go
and other times I’m calm. You see fast. If you don’t stutter, you go get help from my speech teacher. I
I hate it when people try and help where you want to go and you feel blocking is a little OK.
me and say “slow down” or “what don’t get a ticket. Derrik
did you say?” It just makes me Greg, 9 Hanover, Pa.
think more about stuttering and Hanover, Pa.
that’s when I get nervous and tend Making friends
to stutter even more. Stuttering is OK Dear SFA:
I love to sing, and my friends will Dear SFA: My name is Evan and I am 11
ask me, “Why don’t you stutter My name is Damian and I stutter. years old. I stutter like all the other
when you sing?” That’s where I get Sometimes I am mad because kids who write to the Stuttering
stuck. I don’t know what to say. when I am reading at school some Foundation. I repeat my words but
Yes, I do accept who I am and I say “hurry up” and sigh, and I that’s OK now because I go to
know that no one is perfect, but don’t like that. But it is OK to stut- speech class and I’ve improved so
Continued on page 11

9. THE
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION 800-992-9392 9
SUMMER 2009
First picture: “This is how I feel when I stutter... It feels like I’m going up a steep hill. I’m
forcing myself to go up when I stutter. When I finally get up, I try to stop myself because I’m
going down too fast. I may trip and fall,” writes Nicholas, 6th grader from Henrico, Va.
Second picture: “This is how I feel when I use my strategies... The best way to go up a hill
during a stuttering block... easy pace, taking adequate time, don’t rush, steady rhythm in
speech, sliding down easily (I don’t trip and fall).
“If the voice box and mouth make “This is a picture of me giving my presentation. The
you stutter, then the brain will get stuttering ghost doesn’t let me talk right,” writes
rid of the bump. If the brain can’t Ambrosia, 8, of Pittsburgh, Pa. “I use my strategies to
do it, then you will have to get rid scare the ghost away. When I was in first grade I had
of it yourself. Another way is to to give a presentation on a flying squirrel. I was shy
speak slowly,” writes Hunter. because I was afraid that I would get stuck on my
words. My teacher had to do it for me. It’s okay to get
stuck on words sometimes. Now that I use my pull-outs,
I don’t stutter as much when I am talking to people.”
3Sometimes when we stutter we feel
like we are trapped in a box,” writes J.
from Brooklyn, N.Y. “Sometimes when
you stutter you feel nervous and forget
the way to come out of the stutter.”

10. 800-992-9392
I’m so very proud of
all of you. You have Mrs. S. has
been remembering helped me to I was nervous
to use your speech really improve when I started
helpers! Keep up my speech. speech. I thought I
the good work. would be teased. I
was wrong.
Chris
Mrs. S. Isaac
FOUNDATION
STUTTERING
In speech
THE
class I’m Speech
learning how class has
to make the helped me.
“S” sounds.
Max
Hunter
I like speech
class. My
speech is much
smoother than
before.
Max Zackary
www.stutteringhelp.org
I am learning to
These computerized drawings use less bumps
in my speech.
I learned to use
many speech
were created by students in helpers in
therapy. My
Mrs. S’ speech class. speech is so
much smoother.
10

11. THE
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION 11
SUMMER 2009 800-992-9392
Dear SFA, When you remember to
My name is Chris and I am use your speech helpers,
you can hit a home run!!!
in the fifth grade. I have
been going to speech ther-
apy since kindergarten. I
have learned different ways I remembered
to use my
to help my speech. When I speech helpers.
use them, my speech is not Home
bumpy. When I forget to Run!
use them my speech is
bumpy.
Chris
I hate it
when people
You’re make fun
welcome. You’re of me.
welcome.
By Isaac By Max
Thank you
guys for
standing up
for me.
By Chris
Do you have a letter, drawing, or poem you would like
published? Please send it to us with your name, phone
number, age, and signed parent permission form. Mail to:
The Stuttering Foundation, 3100 Walnut Grove Road,
Suite 603 Memphis, TN 38111-0749. By Maxwell
Letters Continued from page 8 old. I stutter. I think that stuttering is What should I do?
not bad at all. Sometimes people Dear SFA:
much. I’ve gotten teased by a lot of tease me. I ignore it because no one
kids. When I get teased, it’s like My name is Makayla. I am 8
is perfect and no one will ever be years old. I’m like my daddy be-
getting punched in the face. The perfect.
kids who teased me are now my cause he stutters too. People make
Naftali, 8 fun of me. When people make fun
friends because I forgave them. Far Rockaway, N.Y.
What I ask for from a friend is for of me I get sad because I feel bad
them to treat me the way they want for stuttering. I was wondering what
Things that help should I do if someone makes fun of
to be treated. Dear SFA:
Through the years, stuttering has- me? What did the other kids do?
My name is Cherrelle. I attend Makayla, 8
n’t pushed me back from playing Fairfield Court Elementary. When
sports and doing activities. Its actu- E-mail
I am talking, sometimes I start to
ally pushed me forward and al- stutter a little bit. When I’m with
lowed me to tell my friends about my speech therapist, it’s like I Editor’s Note: Be sure to read
my stuttering. never stutter. I never stutter when I the letters in this newsletter from
Thank you Stuttering Foundation read something. When she closes other children who have ideas
for supporting all the kids in the book, I start to stutter. When I about teasing. Remember to not
America. And, remember, there is stutter, first I’ll stop then I’ll start let the teasing get you down and
no perfect speech. All the perfect over and make up a little rhythm to to stay calm. It's okay to let others
speech you could get is confidence the speech. When I’m with my know teasing hurts and to ask
and it is all from the heart. family, I stutter a lot. But now I’m them to stop.
Evan, 11 used to stuttering around people. If Another good resource is
Stevenson Ranch, Calif. you stutter, it is OK. Just tap your Sometimes I Just Stutter. In it,
leg and start on your sentence. It every time 9-year old Mark is
Ignore teasing will really help. teased, he just grins and says,
Dear SFA: Cherrelle, “Come back when you can stutter
My name is Naftali. I am 8 years Richmond, Va. better than I do!” K

12. THE
STUTTERING
12 www.stutteringhelp.org FOUNDATION 800-992-9392
B ues legends have
Even stuttering
B.B. King
B.B. King and John Lee Hooker with words. Never could express my- However, he had role models who
have much in common. Born in self the way I wanted. My mind stuttered. His Uncle Major was a se-
Mississippi only a few years fights my mouth, and thoughts get vere stutterer and King wrote of
apart, both are considered among stuck in my throat. Sometimes they him, “Probably because I stuttered
the best blues gui- stay stuck for seconds or even too, the way he suffered with his
tarists of all-time. minutes. As a child, I stut- speech broke my heart and made me
Both King and tered. What was inside could- love him even more. There was a
Hooker have been n’t get out. I’m still not real silent bond between us. Unlike oth-
inducted into The fluent. I don’t know a lot of ers, I could feel what he wanted to
Rock and Roll Hall good words. If I were wrong- say and sometimes said it for him.”
of Fame. However, fully accused of a crime, I’d His great-grandfather, Pop
what the public Davidson, who had been a
may not know is slave, was a major influ-
that they have an- ence on King’s life and also
other thing in com- stuttered. King’s admiration
mon: stuttering. for his great-grandfather
B.B. King was helped him accept his own
born Riley B. King in 1925. stuttering. When discussing
Listed as number three on their stuttering bond in his
Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 autobiography, King wrote
greatest guitarists of all-time, of his great-grandfather,
King’s career and accomplish- “Sometimes I wondered
ments are legendary, yet his about Pop’s stuttering,
stuttering has received scant which unlike Uncle
attention over the years. Major’s, frustrated him like
B.B. stuttered from the time crazy; I wondered if a
he was a child. According to speech impediment has to
Everyday I Sing the Blues: The do with a boiled-up fury in-
Story of B.B. King by David side. Why did I stutter?
Shirley, while in grade school Classmates were cruel and
King attended the lively called me stupid,
Pentecostal church services, and teasing me some-
it was there that he discovered thing fierce. But I
he had a special gift for music. never saw anyone
People were amazed that he tease Pop
could sing so beautifully without have a tough time explaining Davidson.”
stuttering. The church’s pastor con- my innocence. I’d stammer and Countless times
tended that it was the Holy Ghost stumble and choke up until the in his life, King
who sang so gracefully through judge would throw me in jail. has stated that
B.B.’s throat when the young lad Words aren’t my friends. Music singing was al-
joined the choir. is. Sounds, notes, rhythms. I ways easier than
In his 1996 autobiography, Blues talk through music.” speaking. He claims that his stut-
All Around Me: The Autobiography King faced the typical difficulties tering has decreased over the
of B.B. King, King wrote, “I struggle faced by many children who stutter. years but is always there. K

13. THE
STUTTERING
SUMMER 2009 FOUNDATION 800-992-9392 13
many things in common
John Lee Hooker
John Lee Hooker, born in 1915, when telling stories against himself.
also took refuge in music at an This good natured form of self-
early age as he struggled with stut- parody is evident in Hooker’s clas- To list all of the accom-
tering. In the biography sic 1953 song “Stuttering Blues.” plishments of these two
Boogie Man: The In 1980, Hooker appeared famed blues guitarists
Adventures of John and sang in the now classic would be a major task.
Lee Hooker in the movie, The Blues Brothers. B.B. King and John Lee
American Twentieth As a result, the look of John Hooker have an infinite
Century, author number of CDs avail-
Charles Shaar able on Amazon.com
Murray states, and to say that the
“Hooker sounds as two are well repre-
if he has $100,000 sented on YouTube is
worth of sophisti- an understatement. It
cated digital good- is disheartening to
ies built in his chest think that the general
and his throat. Yet public does not know
his voice is quiet and muted, its that the two greatest
tonal richness offset by a resid- blues guitarists of all-
ual stammer and blurred by the time shared the com-
deepest alluvial accents of the mon bond of stutter-
Mississippi Delta.” ing and that their
Murray also writes about speech problems
how so many people do im- were responsible for
pressions of Hooker and that leading them to
his stuttering is a big part of it. music at an early age
“Anybody who tells you an and on their way to
anecdote about John Lee international super-
Hooker as a young man – stardom.
and Buddy Guy is the cur-
rent champ, by a very short
head indeed, of the Hooker
Impressionists League – Belushi’s character,
will inevitably end up mim- Jake Blues, was di-
icking his characteristic rectly influenced by
stutter.” Also, Bernard Hooker’s trademark
Besman, the producer who first sunglasses and soul patch.
recorded Hooker, claims that the Though his stuttering reduced
primary reason for his decision was to some degree in his adult life,
that he was intrigued by the sce- Hooker is remembered by
nario of a man who stuttered when friends as putting them at ease
he spoke, but not when he sang. about his stuttering by being
Reportedly in a spirit of self-parody, able to poke fun at his speech in
Hooker used an exaggerated stutter a soft way. K

14. THE
STUTTERING
FOUNDATION
3100 Walnut Grove Road, Suite 603
P.O. Box 11749 • Memphis, TN 38111-0749
#Over the Side by Richard Wells, USN #Current Issues in Stuttering Research
#Speakeasy Symposium XXVII, May 1-3, AFJ and USMC Merchant. 2008. For more and Practice by Nan Bernstein Ratner and
News Briefs
2009, in Saddle Brook, NJ. For more infor- information, e-mail bwana@ameritech.net. John Tetnowski. 2006. Lawrence Erlbaum
mation, contact Bob Gathman at 201-262- #Stuttering Stan Takes a Stand by Artie Associates, Mahwah, NJ.
0895 or e-mail speakezusa@optonline.net. Knapp. 2008. Available at www.amazon.com. # Begaiement: Intervention preventive
#FRIENDS, the National Organization of # Practical Intervention for Early precoce chez le jeune enfant by Anne Marie
Young People Who Stutter, July 23-26, Childhood Stammering by Elaine Kelman Simon et al. 2005. Available from the
2009, Tampa, Fla., www.friendswho and Alison Nicholas. (2008) Speechmark Association Parole Begaiement,
stutter.org. Publishing, Ltd. Milton Keynes, U.K., www.begaiement.org.
# National Stuttering Association www.speechmark.net. #Les begaiements: Histoire, psychologie,
Conference - July 8 - 12, 2009, Scottsdale, #Stammering, Advice for All Ages by Renee evaluation, varietes, traitements by Anne
Ariz., www.westutter.org. Byrne and Louise Wright. (2008), Sheldon Van Hout and Francoise Estienne. Published
#ELSA’s 7th Youth meeting - July 25-31, Press, London, www.sheldonpress.co.uk. by Masson, S.A., 120 boulevard Saint
2009, Settle, England, e-mail #Speak Freely: Essential Speech Skills Germain, 75280 Paris Cedex 06, France.
elsa.europe@telia.com. for School-Age Children Who Stutter by #Forty Years After Therapy: One Man’s
# 6th World Congress on Fluency Mark Allen, Ph.D., (2007) Speak Freely Story by George Helliesen, M.A. Available
Disorders - International Fluency Publications, Evanston, IL, www.cfst.com. from Apollo Press, Inc., 800-683-9713 or
Association, Aug. 5-8, 2009, Rio de Janeiro, #Stuttering: An Integrated Approach to www.apollopress.com.
Brazil, www.theifa.org. Its Nature and Treatment, Third Edition by #Sharing the Journey: Lessons from my
#BSA National Conference, Sept. 11- Barry Guitar. 2006. Available from Students and Clients with Tangled Tongues
13, 2009, at the Harrow campus of the Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 800-638- by Lon Emerick, Ph.D., available from the
University of Westminster, London, 3030, www.LWW.com. Stuttering Foundation at 800-992-9392.
www.stammering.org. #Beyond Stammering, Revised edition by #Stuttering: Its Nature, Diagnosis, and
#International Stuttering Awareness Day David Maguire. (2008) Souvenir Press, Treatment, by Edward G. Conture, Ph.D.,
Online Conference - Oct. 1 - 22, 2009. Freely London. published by Allyn & Bacon, Needham
available and linked starting Oct. 1 at # Stuttering Recovery Personal and Heights, MA. (781) 433-8410.
www.stutteringhomepage.com. Empirical Perspectives by Dale F. # Successful Stuttering Management
# American Speech-Language and Program, Second Edition, by Dorvan
Williams. 2006. Available from Lawrence
Hearing Association Convention - Nov. 19- Breitenfeldt, Ph.D., published by EWU
Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ,
21, 2009, New Orleans, La., www.asha.org. Press, Cheney, WA, (509) 235-6453.
www.erlbaum.com. # Synergistic Stuttering Therapy: A
#14th Speak Easy Convention, Australian #Speech Therapy for the Severe Older
Speak Easy Association - Feb. 18-21, 2010, Holistic Approach by Sister Charleen
Adolescent and Adult Stutterer: A Program Bloom and Donna K. Cooperman.
Sydney, Australia, www.speakeasy.org.au.
for Change by George Helliesen. 2006. Published by Butterworth Heineman,
Available from Apollo Press, Newport News, Woburn, MA.
Books on Stuttering or Related Topics: VA, 800-683-9713, www.apollopress.com. #Stuttering Intervention: A Collaborative
Books
#Only When I Talk by Bob Hubbert. 2007. #The Child and Adolescent Stuttering Journey to Fluency Freedom by David
T
Available online at www.amazon.com. Treatment and Activity Resource Guide by Allen Shapiro, published by Pro-Ed,
Peter Ramig and Darrell Dodge. 2005. Austin, Texas.
he Stuttering Foundation Available from Thomson Delmar Learning,
K
of America is a tax-exempt Clifton Park, NY. This newsletter is published quarterly. Please
organization under section # Early Childhood Stuttering: For e-mail address changes and story ideas to
501(c)(3) of the Internal Clinicians by Clinicians by Ehud Yairi and
info@stutteringhelp.org.
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Nicoline Grinager Ambrose. 2005.
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Available from ProEd, Austin, TX, and
Volume18, Issue 2
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4942(j)(3). Charitable contributions www.amazon.com.
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tax-deductible, subject to limitations Stutter by Peter Reitzes. 2006. Available from
Special thanks to Joan Warner, Patty Reed,
under the Code. Pro-Ed, Austin, TX, www.proedinc.com.
Susie Hall, Pat Hamm, Lisa Hinton, and
Terri Jones.