| I tried to avoid talking about any stuttering device | | | | emotional baggage. Collectively, these symptoms |
| previously. The main reason is I do not want to | | | | are called secondary. In your therapist's office, |
| "attack" personally anyone's product. However, I | | | | these symptoms are no longer "visible." Yet, they |
| am often asked what I think about this topic. | | | | will pop in when you step outside. When you are |
| Since I do not want to repeat my answer over | | | | generally calm, you really do not need any |
| and over again, I will post my full response here. | | | | electronic product to speak more fluently. You |
| It does not matter if you agree or disagree with | | | | can do it on your own. |
| something I have to say. The most important | | | | There is a common pattern you can observe |
| thing is to derive some benefit from this | | | | during any college speech therapy. When you |
| discussion. | | | | meet your new clinician, you might stammer a |
| There are so many electronic speech aids | | | | little. However, when you get used to her, you will |
| available on the market today. DAF, Desktop | | | | be speaking as fluently as she is. This will typically |
| Fluency System, Fluency Master, Masking | | | | happen towards the middle or the end of each |
| Auditory Feedback, Frequency Auditory | | | | college term. Many clinicians wrongfully assume it |
| Feedback, Pocket Fluency System, Telephone | | | | is their work with you that has led to such |
| Fluency System, Wireless Fluency System are | | | | "dramatic improvement" in fluency. It is the same |
| just several of those aids I have come across. | | | | effect of artificial environment I already discussed |
| Over the years, I tested almost all electronic | | | | above. |
| devices. There is no shortage of them. It seems | | | | Familiar and low-stress environment (your |
| as if there is a new device being sold on the | | | | therapist's office)= no secondary symptoms of |
| market each month. Although the products might | | | | stuttering= fluency. This formula is very simple. |
| have different names, it is very easy to group | | | | Yet, many therapists ignore it. It is the main |
| them together. The main reason is because they | | | | explanation why everything works in your |
| operate on the same principles. I will tell you right | | | | clinician's office and does not work when you step |
| away I was disappointed with all of them. Some | | | | outside. |
| devices I purchased were subsequently donated | | | | By the way, there is nothing you can really do to |
| to my university's speech clinic. As I checked | | | | make things work. If some speech failure "takes |
| recently, they are now used for demonstration | | | | place" in a real world, most therapists have one |
| purposes only. I am glad all young speech | | | | explanation for it. You did not work hard enough |
| pathology students are able to learn how these | | | | on your prolongations. Work hard on them. You |
| devices work even though I do not personally see | | | | will experience exactly the same effect when you |
| any benefit for people who stutter from such | | | | step outside. You cannot say even several words |
| learning. The other devices simply broke on their | | | | fluently. This is a very painful and sad thing to |
| own. I felt there was no need to fix them as | | | | realize. You just threw your money on something |
| they were useless. | | | | that has not produced even smallest positive |
| As we already discussed, there is more than one | | | | result. |
| electronic device for stuttering you can purchase | | | | 3) THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS "ABLE" TO |
| presently. Generally, all devices can be put into | | | | ADDRESS ONLY ONE COMPONENT OF THIS |
| one category. Some of them tend to "mask" | | | | DISORDER. |
| one's voice by producing awful sounds into one's | | | | Again, I seemed to talk about it already. The |
| years. The others slow down one's speech and | | | | reason, which is stated above, is probably the |
| change one's pitch. | | | | main reason why your electronic product will not |
| I know many scientists who created these | | | | minimize your stuttering disability. All electronic |
| products can provide us with very complex | | | | devices deal with only one component of |
| explanations on how they work. These | | | | stuttering. It is your speech. We all know there |
| explanations tend to be based on sound speech | | | | are so many of them. However, the devices |
| principles, which many of ordinary people do not | | | | cannot address those components no matter |
| understand. However, it is safe to place each | | | | how great there are. When the other |
| stuttering anti device into one of above | | | | components of stuttering are left untreated, they |
| categories. | | | | will surely bring back stuttering. |
| Personally, I am not against anything that can help | | | | Speech aids cannot prevent you from feeling |
| us to deal with this communication disorder better. | | | | anxious. They cannot stop your panic attacks. |
| If there is anything you can use, which will help | | | | They cannot prevent your heart from racing. |
| you with stammering, I will recommend you to | | | | They cannot eliminate your fear of speaking. |
| use it. I came across some speech therapists | | | | Often, these aids cannot even decrease the level |
| who are against using any fluency device. They | | | | of your disfluency. Since they do not work, they |
| stated that such devices are often used as | | | | cannot even boost your self-confidence. |
| crutches. They act as distractions that can | | | | There are also some other things I want to |
| enhance one's fluency only temporarily. | | | | discuss with you briefly. As you know most |
| Apparently, they would rather teach you how to | | | | devices cost over $ 1,000 US dollars. Some cost |
| use prolongations and cancellations. As I | | | | $ 4,000-5,000 dollars. Purchasing any electronic |
| understand they are mainly afraid that these | | | | product to treat this condition is a major financial |
| crutches will become like those filler words you | | | | investment for people in all occupations, not just |
| use in your speech. You rely on them heavily till | | | | college students. Many companies do not give |
| they become a part of this problem. | | | | enough time to test it. Even when you return the |
| While it is true that many of those crutches can | | | | product, these companies will issue you only a |
| become a part of this disorder, I doubt you will | | | | partial refund. |
| use them long enough for it to occur. I know you | | | | Let's assume you want to purchase one specific |
| and I wished many times for those speech | | | | electronic device for stuttering. You will have only |
| crutches to make a difference in our lives. Often, | | | | 30 days to test it. It sounds good initially. |
| when something worked for me even | | | | However, when the product is being shipped to |
| temporarily, it stopped working after some period | | | | you, you will need to wait probably one week to |
| of time. Thus, there was no need for me to | | | | receive it. You will need a few days to figure out |
| continue using it. | | | | how to use it. You will also need time to ship it |
| However, my personal experiences with speech | | | | back or you will not even get a partial refund for |
| aids do not really matter. The main question, | | | | several thousands of dollars you just paid. |
| however, is as follows: | | | | Consequently, your time to test the product will |
| Does your stuttering device minimize stuttering | | | | be extremely limited. The manufacturers do hope |
| disability even to some degree? | | | | the time to test it will lapse fast or they will |
| Well, if you used any electronic products for this | | | | suffer a financial loss. |
| disorder in the past, you are already screaming | | | | Do not also assume that when you paid, you will |
| out the answer right now. Of course, the answer | | | | stop dealing with the manufacturer. Many devices |
| is NO! I bet most of you never thought about the | | | | break once your warranty expires. Most |
| possible reasons why very complex products | | | | warranties expire in one year. You will be paying |
| have failed to work. I will give you a full answer | | | | for the same junk over and over again. Why? |
| right now. | | | | The main reason is many manufacturers always |
| 1) YOUR FOCUS REMAINS ON SPEECH IN A | | | | try to find ways to minimize their costs. Do not |
| REAL WORLD. | | | | be surprised to find your device is made of cheap |
| You see many electronic products for stuttering | | | | materials or it was put together hastily |
| are essentially meant to distract you from | | | | somewhere in China. No wonder now it cannot be |
| focusing on your speech during your conversation. | | | | even turned on! |
| For instance, the device that masks your voice | | | | It also needs to be pointed out that electronic |
| operates on this principle. If you do not focus on | | | | products will make you look weird and strange to |
| your speech or do not hear your voice when you | | | | other people. Even when you have a very long |
| try to speak, then your stuttering problem will be | | | | hair, people can still see there is something being |
| minimized to a certain degree. Nevertheless, the | | | | attached to your throat. Many people also assume |
| reduction of stuttering under these circumstances | | | | you have a hearing problem when you wear your |
| only occurs in your speech therapist's office. | | | | device. I know what you are saying now...Who |
| When you are being placed in an "artificial" | | | | cares as long as I do not stutter? However, you |
| environment, such as your speech pathologist's | | | | will stutter and look weird to others at the same |
| office, you do not have a very high level of | | | | time. As we all have already examined, these |
| stress. That is, you are already know your | | | | products do not decrease stuttering in a real |
| environment. Your speech therapist already | | | | world. |
| knows you stutter. When you will be trying your | | | | Lastly, I just wanted to mention something you |
| electronic speech aid, the ideal environment for | | | | probably have not thought of yourself. The |
| reduction of stuttering has already being created. | | | | devices that make sounds are not good for your |
| No wonder you will start speaking more fluently. | | | | hearing and your brain. Let me illustrate it. Let's |
| Now, please step out in a real world and try the | | | | assume you have a CD player with ear plugs. You |
| same thing. You focus will remain on your speech. | | | | like listening to your favorite music. In fact, you |
| You will have a high level of anxiety. You will be | | | | listen to it every day for many hours. If the |
| nervous even when you wear your newly | | | | volume of your music is high enough, you will |
| purchased expensive piece of junk. Many people | | | | eventually begin to lose your hearing. What if you |
| who stutter even report they are not even | | | | have a device that makes awful noises in order |
| aware of the device being attached to their ears | | | | to prevent your from hearing your own voice? |
| and throat when they are facing a conversation in | | | | Do you think your hearing will stay the same? |
| a real world. In fact, they only thing that they can | | | | Also, no one has studied the effect of such |
| focus on is their speech. | | | | products on your brain. Do you think wearing |
| 2) THERE ARE NO SECONDARY SYMPTOMS OF | | | | something like this will have no negative effect on |
| STUTTERING IN YOUR THERAPIST'S OFFICE. | | | | your brain? |
| I already discussed this reason above. We all | | | | Now, I think we have the answer to our question. |
| know stuttering disability is very complex. There | | | | It is NO! Stuttering device cannot minimize |
| are more components to stuttering than one's | | | | stuttering disability. Moreover, it might have even |
| speech. People who stutter have anxiety, panic | | | | potentially damaging effects on your health. |
| attacks, lack of self-confidence and other | | | | |