Speech therapy for stuttering

Author: Yao Xinshan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-05-01
Features: This is a book about stuttering correction, summarizing the author's years of practical experience and valuable insights. Through years of stuttering correction practice, the author further studied various theories and techniques of stuttering correction both domestically and internationally, and applied important theories of psychological therapy to guide and enrich stuttering correction techniques, forming the author's "Four-Wheel" comprehensive rapid stuttering correction method. The "Four-Wheel" comprehensive rapid stuttering correction method refers to the integration of psychoanalytic theory, behaviorist theory, humanistic theory, and rational-emotive therapy theory in psychological therapy, employing specialized techniques for intensive treatment of stuttering patients. This stuttering correction method is highly effective, comprehensively utilizes various theories of psychological therapy, emphasizes post-treatment follow-up services, and is open-ended.
The author has long been engaged in ideological and political education in secondary schools and served as the League Committee Secretary of Huaihai Middle School in Shanghai during the 1960s, concurrently teaching politics. Since the 1980s, the author gradually developed an interest in psychological research and began studying psychological counseling, conducting research, and promoting it. The author became an active advocate of psychological counseling. The author has achieved some results in the research and practice of psychological counseling, leading the "Research on Psychological Counseling in Primary and Secondary Schools" project, which later won the Second Prize in Shanghai Educational Science Research Achievements and the Second Prize in Excellent Achievement Popularization. The author has compiled or participated in compiling books such as Guidelines for Psychological Counseling of Middle School Students, The Key to Opening the Heart, Exploration of School Psychological Counseling, Modern School Psychological Counseling, Guidelines for School Psychological Counseling Activities (Teacher's Edition, Student's Edition), Guidelines for Psychological Counseling of Junior High School Students (Teacher's Edition, Student's Edition), The Treasure of Success, and Q&A on Psychological Correction for Children and Adolescents. The author also wrote the monograph Individual Psychological Counseling. Additionally, the author has published numerous articles on psychological counseling in newspapers and magazines such as Wen Wei Po, Xin Min Evening News, Jiefang Daily, Youth Daily, Juvenile Daily, Middle School Knowledge News, Shanghai Educational Research, Dazong Medicine, Family Medicine, and Dazong Psychology.
By chance, the renowned psychologist Professor Zhang Xie from Xiamen University came to Shanghai for a lecture. He mentioned that stuttering is a psychological disorder and that he had techniques for correcting it. The author was very interested and invited him to cooperate in establishing a stuttering correction experimental class in Shanghai, asking him to serve as the technical advisor and even formally apprenticed under him. He readily agreed. Thus, before the Spring Festival of 1996, an experimental class for stuttering correction was organized. The class had 21 students, the oldest being 44 years old, and the youngest only seven. The correction method involved full psychological therapy. Full meant that all participants stayed at the school for the entire 10-day correction period. Afterward, with strong support from the Research Office Director of the Xuhui District Institute of Education, Wu Jinbiao, and active collaboration from colleagues in the office, a stuttering correction experimental class was established. The location was chosen as Dong'an New Village No. 2 Primary School near the institute. The school leadership strongly supported the initiative, lending classrooms and offices, and the school canteen extended its hours to provide meals for the students and teachers. The news of the stuttering correction quickly spread within the institute, causing much discussion, with many teachers expressing skepticism. Some even bet with the author: "If you can correct someone's stuttering in just 10 days, I will crawl on the ground three times." They believed that the students' stuttering had persisted for years, making such a quick cure impossible. At the time, the author felt immense pressure, but his confidence never wavered.
After two days of psychological therapy, visible results were observed. By the ninth day, all students had made significant progress, with some even feeling that their stuttering had been cured, demonstrating remarkable effects. A reporter from Xin Min Evening News, Tang Ning, heard about this and came to interview each student, writing a report on the astonishing results of the stuttering correction, which was published on March 3, 1996, titled "Professor Zhang's Skillful Treatment of Stuttering."
Inspired by this successful stuttering correction practice, the author resolved to establish an institution in Shanghai to treat stuttering patients. With the support of the leadership of the Xuhui District Institute of Education—Chen Ruozuo, Zhu Lifang—and Professor Wu Zengqiang of the Shanghai Psychological Counseling Association, the Shanghai Stuttering Correction Center was established, later renamed the Shanghai Xuejiao Stuttering Correction Station. The center has since treated hundreds of stuttering patients nationwide, with an effectiveness rate exceeding 95%. These patients ranged in age from 6 to 71, coming from all over China, as well as overseas Chinese from the United States, Japan, and Taiwan. They occupied diverse professions: professors, teachers, doctors, nurses, business leaders, managers, lawyers, administrative officials, military personnel, graduate students, various students, and workers, truly representing all walks of life.
Through years of stuttering correction practice, the author further studied theories and techniques of stuttering correction both domestically and internationally and applied important theories of psychological therapy to guide and enrich these techniques, forming the author's "Four-Theory" comprehensive rapid stuttering correction method. The "Four-Theory" comprehensive rapid stuttering correction method refers to the integration of psychoanalytic, behaviorist, humanistic, and rational-emotive therapy theories in psychological therapy, employing specialized techniques for intensive treatment of stuttering patients. The effectiveness of the stuttering correction is significant, and the author's method has four key features:
1. High Effectiveness Rate: Significant results are achieved in a short period. The effectiveness rate is at least 95%, and with full cooperation from the patient, it can be as high as 100%. Conversely, if the patient is uncooperative, the results may be affected. Additionally, individuals with low intelligence may not see ideal results, with less than 5% of such cases improving.
2. Comprehensive Application of Various Theories of Psychological Therapy: The author's stuttering correction theory integrates the theories of the four most influential psychological therapy schools in the world today—psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanism, and rational-emotive therapy—and applies them to the practice of stuttering correction, achieving excellent results.
3. Emphasis on Post-Treatment Follow-Up Services: In the author's stuttering correction practice, it was found that a few patients experienced significant improvements but later relapsed due to not following the prescribed consolidation exercises or forgetting self-psychological regulation. To be fully responsible for the patients, the author places great emphasis on post-treatment services. There are three measures: First, a one-month consolidation program is assigned after the 10-day correction period. Second, after one month, patients are encouraged to join the "Shanghai Yan Chang Club" organized by the author to consolidate the effects of stuttering correction, improve speaking skills, and cultivate good public speaking abilities. Third, free treatment is provided for those with severe relapses.
4. Open-Ended Treatment: Open-ended treatment refers to the practice of treating stuttering patients without emphasizing collective, closed-institutional accommodations. Instead, open-ended collective treatment is adopted. Practical results have shown that open-ended treatment is not inferior to, and may even be superior to, closed-institutional treatment. Many stuttering patients have requested the author to write a book on stuttering correction, and the author had also considered writing a monograph but was hindered by a lack of time. At the end of last year, the author suffered a serious foot injury, with a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left heel, requiring hospitalization and surgery. The recovery period following the surgery provided some time for rest. Most of the content in Psychological Treatment of Stuttering was written during the author's hospital stay. After leaving the hospital in April of this year, some final edits were made, and the book was finally completed and published. This fulfills the needs of many stuttering patients and also fulfills the author's long-held wish.
Due to the author's limited background in psychology, coupled with writing during leave and spare time, and the pressures of publication, there may be some inaccuracies in this book. The author welcomes feedback from fellow professionals and readers to address any shortcomings for future revisions.