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From: John B. Ellis
Date: 13 Oct 2004
Time: 15:41:34 -0500
Remote Name: 128.138.179.213
Vasu, I agree with what you’re saying: given that stuttering is not usually present 100% of the time, it makes more sense to use MSI or FSI techniques as needed instead of attempting to use them on every utterance all of the time. However, most clinicians that I know have advocated using techniques more frequently at the beginning of the therapy process to facilitate learning. This is true, in my experience, whether the techniques being learned are easy onsets (e.g., FSI) or cancellations (e.g., MSI). The ability to selectively and successfully employ techniques ONLY WHEN NEEDED is a high-level skill, and is only displayed in difficult situations after prior successful experiences. Furthermore, I suspect that FSI techniques break down in difficult situations for some speakers because they are, in effect, using their fluency strategies to avoid or conceal an impending moment of stuttering. In such a situation, a few well placed pseudostutters can work wonders.