Talking Out Online: Mini

The aims of the course are:

• To develop confidence in communicating
• To develop a more positive attitude to speaking and decrease sensitivity to stammering
• To develop problem solving and self-help skills
• To develop positive thinking skills

Emphasis is placed on developing good communication skills; this is based on the fact that 80% of our communication is non-verbal. Skills such as good eye contact, listening skills, turn taking in conversation, facial expression and body language are practiced using role-play in a variety of situations.  The course is structured to provide a hierarchy of challenges for developing confidence in speaking situations. These comprise of large and small group discussions, opportunities to express ideas and read aloud (activities which are often terrifying challenges for young people who stammer), role-plays and presentations.

Our approach aims to broaden the young person’s perspective on stammering by identifying and analysing both physical manifestations and the psychological/emotional factors involved. Identifying the problems and sharing with others helps the individual to decrease sensitivity to stammering, allowing him/her to focus on the positive aspects of their own communication.

Young people who stammer face many challenges. The course focuses on developing the individual’s ability to analyse situations, generate ideas to solve the problem and select the best solution for them.  This is achieved through the group sessions, games and self-directed challenges.

A step-by-step approach is used to enable the young people to identify unhelpful thoughts (the negative self talk that we use when we feel upset threatened, afraid or anxious).  Young people are then assisted in analysing their unhelpful thoughts and changing them to helpful ones.

We use a variety of outcome measures including situation questionnaires, our own graded scales that cover both the physical behaviours of stammering and feelings/attitudes towards speaking, from the point of view of both the individual and the parents.  These scales are completed at, before and after the course.

The course takes into account the impact stammering has on the developmental issues involved in adolescence.  These include :

Adolescence is a time for increasing independence and developing individuality.  Our course encourages each person to take responsibility for managing their stammer by giving choices and encouraging flexibility, so that each person learns to recognise what they need to do in order to make a difference to their speech and how they feel about it.  

A young person who stammers can feel very isolated due to their difficulties in communicating.  At a time when good friendships are vitally important, our course provides an opportunity to meet other with the same difficulty.  Sharing thoughts and feelings is essential in developing a positive attitude to speaking and increasing confidence.

Young people are often concerned about exams, future employment and relationships.  Our work on positive thinking helps each individual to recognise any negative thoughts in relation to the above and change them.

If stammering is not addressed at this vital time in a person’s life, there can be negative implications for self-esteem and confidence which can lead to a failure of the individual to meet their potential, both socially and in the working environment.  Addressing the difficulties now will decrease the need for ongoing speech and language therapy in adult life.