I frequently check-in with the children and adolescents who stutter that I work with by asking them to explain to me (or someone else in their communicative environment) why concepts presented in therapy work for them. To this end, I recently asked some of my students to write a short "infomercial" on voluntary (pseudo) stuttering. They were told to "sell" this technique to those who didn't understand its use in helping manage stuttering and anxieties related to speaking.

I use the attached template, Make A Speech Infomercial (in PDF format) to assist the students.

The students were assigned to tape paid programming from TV, watch at least one episode, and compile a list of ways in which the viewers were persuaded to buy the featured product. Using this information, the students were asked to script a draft infomercial for voluntary stuttering.

The students created their own scripts, practiced their selling/persuasion techniques and then performed the infomercials on camera in my office. Some students then held a screening in their homes for a self-chosen group of family and friends. One student even had a plan to hold a screening for several peers from his classroom during a school speech therapy session.

The students that participated in this activity rated it "fun" and "cool." I discovered their level of understanding for the chosen technique and their parents (and even peers) gained valuable insight into therapy. In the future, I will expand this activity to other therapy concepts and will also use it in group therapy sessions.

-Discussion-