Treating Stuttering: Delay Auditory Feedback Devices
Stuttering vs. Cluttering
(information taken from wikipedia.com, July 18, 2007)
Cluttering and stuttering sound very similar to the lay ear, especially when they are at their worst. However, they are extremely different disorders and clutterers and stutterers are very different.
Stutterers:
• Are very aware of their disorder
• Perform worse when speaking under stress
• Have a hard time fluently giving short answers
• Have inhibited, neat handwriting
• Therapy focuses on relaxation techniques, calling attention away from speech
• Are typically withdrawn, shy, or introverted
• Typically were fluent, but then started stuttering
• Know exactly what they want to say but cannot say it
• Have organized speech
• Have good listening skills
Clutterers:
• Are very unaware of their disorder
• Perform better when speaking under stress
• Have a hard time fluently giving long answers
• Have hasty, repetitious, uninhibited, messy handwriting
• Have little to no fear of their speech and are careless in speech
• Therapy focuses on calling attention to speech details
• Are typically outgoing or extroverted
• Typically were never very fluent
• Do not know exactly what they want to say, but say it anyway
• Have disorganized, tangential, grammatically incorrect speech with word substitutions
• Are impatient listeners, frequently interrupt, and have poor turn-taking skills in conversation
For more information on the difference between stuttering and cluttering, try the following link:
http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/related.html
Treating Stuttering & Cluttering: Delay Auditory Feedback
A Delayed Auditory Feedback device equipped with a microphone and headphones that allows its user to record his or her speech and hear it through the headphones after a very short delay. The device allows its user to determine the length of the delay on the advice. The ultimate goal is to use the device until the individual no longer needs the assistance in hearing his/her speech patterns. This device can be used to treat stuttering and cluttering but is most commonly used for stuttering.
It is generally accepted that DAF devices are a successful way to treat stuttering. Research shows that DAF devices can in fact decrease stuttering by 70%. There is also evidence that the improvements in speech from this device have long term benefits (a).
DAF stuttering therapy requires the stutter to begin at a slower speaking rate. The goals of DAF therapy are (b):
• “To increase the length and complexity of sentences while using the DAF device to support on-target fluent speech.
• To increase the stress of the speaking situation while using the DAF device to support on-target fluent speech.
• To reduce the need for the DAF device, until the stutterer no longer needs the device.”
Other researchers found that DAF technology can benefit students who struggle with a variety of challenges. Below is a list of the other opportunities for using this technology in the classroom(c). More details can be found at [[http://www.kayelemetrics.com/Product%20Info/3500/3500appsec10.htm]]
• Phonological Disability
• Articulation Deficit
• Learning Disability
• Voice Disorders
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Auditory Processing Difficulty
• Motor Speech Difficulty
(a), (b): Casa Futura Technology. http://www.casafuturatech.com/Books/NoMiracleCures/DAF.shtml July 18, 2007.
(c)KayPantex. http://www.kayelemetrics.com/Product%20Info/3500/3500appsec10.htm. July 18, 2007.
page provided by Najla Husseini