Over the years, a multitude of terms has been used to describe and define the techniques or approaches in fluency therapy. In many instances, it is exceedingly difficult to trace the etiology of the terms to their originators. The list below, therefore, does not attempt to identify the etymology of the terms, but merely presents a compilation of terms often used in fluency therapy. A more detailed description of selected speech therapy techniques is presented in the "Therapy" section.

ADAPTATION - Repeating a stuttered word or phrase over and over until the stuttering diminishes. (Of marginal clinical value; may be helpful in desensitization)

AIRFLOW - Beginning the process of speaking by releasing an exaggerated amount of air (exhalation) just prior to gently adducting the vocal folds to initiate phonation. (Reduces laryngeal blocks)

ALCOHOL - Many people who stutter report alcohol consumption diminishes anxiety and they become more fluent. Others find it diminishes their control of speaking and they become disfluent.

ARM SWING (METRONOME) - Speaking to the imposed rhythm of a continuously swinging arm, finger or metronome. (Of limited clinical value; may demonstrate that a person can exert control over his or her stuttering)

BIBLIOTHERAPY - Providing written materials to educate and inform a patient about the nature and treatment of their problem. (Enhances patient's understanding and establishes a working vocabulary)

BOUNCING - "Breaking up" the tension of a block by the process of changing it to a controlled repetition. (Modifies laryngeal and oral blocks)

CANCELLATION - A beginning stage in modifying a stuttering block by first finishing the stuttered word, pausing one or two seconds, then repeating the word using very slow motion and smooth, gradual transition from sound to sound. (Primary step in modifying/changing stuttering pattern)

CHANTING - Speaking in a "chant" or singing manner that utilizes continuous phonation with reduced rate and inflection. (Enhances the feeling of speech as continuous movement; minimizes blocks, repetitions and tremor)

CONTINUOUS FORWARD BALLISTIC MOVEMENT - Speaking at a reduced rate, emphasizing only articulatory movement to the next successive sound in the sequence -- no backing up or repeating (Reduces avoidances and disrupts stuttering pattern)

CONTINUOUS VOICING/PHONATION - Maintaining the feature of voicing throughout the articulation of an entire utterance. (Reduces blocks occurring after initiation of utterance)

DELAYED AUDITORY FEEDBACK (DAF) - Changing the patient's audition of their own speech by altering (increasing) the time between production and self-audition. (Slows rate and enhances oral proprioceptive feedback)

DELAYED RESPONSE - Waiting a few seconds before responding to your communicative partner. (To slow overall rate of speaking and exert volitional control of speaking)

DRUGS (PRESCRIPTION) - Use of a drug, usually a tranquilizer, which reduces overall anxiety. Milder stutterers often report some success; more severe stutterers generally find the drug insufficient, as fears/anxieties may be suddenly too intense at the moment when speech is attempted. Experimentation with other drugs (such as Clomipramine and Desipramine) is currently ongoing; some patients report fewer disfluencies with Clomipramine.

EASY or GENTLE (VOICE) ONSET - Initiating phonation by emphasizing gentle contact of the vocal folds; secondarily slows rate at onset of utterance and reduces tension. (Reduces laryngeal blocks)

EASY SPEECH - A combination of techniques which serves to enhance fluency -- the term is most often used with children. (May be used synonymously with "good speech")

EASY STUTTERING - Modification of stuttering which reduces struggle behavior and affords a feeling of controlled speaking. (Changes stuttering pattern and reduces severity of blocks)

ERA-SM - A technique which begins by combining slow rate, slight syllable stretch, light articulatory contact and gentle onset at initiation of an utterance, then allows rate to increase while emphasizing ballast movement.

FLOODING - Purposefully stuttering on each word uttered. (Reduces laryngeal and oral tension; diminishes fear of stuttering -desensitizes)

FREEZING - Continuation of a block for several seconds until it is under voluntary control. (Builds feeling of controlling stuttering blocks, reduces tension in the block)

GILCU - Gradual Increase in Length and Complexity of Utterance. A learning process in which fluency is positively reinforced through a series of progressively longer and linguistically and/or articulatorily more complex material.

GOING TO THE WORD - Patient is instructed not to avoid, postpone or circumlocute uttering a particular feared word, but rather to begin articulating it directly, generally using a control technique. (Diminishes fears and avoidances)

HYPNOSIS - Using post-hypnotic suggestion to reduce anxiety in feared speaking situations. Most report only temporary results, if any.

IMAGING - A psychological technique of projecting yourself into a difficult speaking situation and visualizing yourself being successful.

LIGHT (ARTICULATORY) CONTACT - Articulation using minimal muscular effort in making contact at point(s) of articulation. (Diminishes oral blocks and repetitions)

LOW PITCH VOICE - Beginning an utterance using a low-pitched voice. (Requires patient to be relaxed in speaking situation to reduce tension on vocal folds)

PACKAGING - The concept of focusing on one technique which brings other techniques into play. (For patients who have been in therapy and experienced success with a several techniques)

PREPARATORY SET - "Scanning" for potentially difficult words, planning ahead to utilize a speech target prior to initiating the attempt to speak the word. (A more advanced strategy to minimize stuttering)

PROLONGATION - A means of modifying a stuttering block by stretching it out just after the block has begun. (Useful to teach control of oral and laryngeal stuttering)

PULL-OUT - After a block has begun, the patient stretches the stuttered sound until s/he has gained control of the block. (Helpful to learn to control stuttering blocks)

RELAXATION - Numerous techniques that serve to lessen muscle tension and promote greater relaxation. May be positive benefits in preparing to give a speech or presentation, if individual has the time to access a "relaxed state" prior to speaking. Generally insufficient in situations which don't allow for preparation. (Builds awareness of tension and provides a means to dissipate it, but usually requires too much time)

SCANNING - Looking ahead to words about to be spoken for potential difficulty; to implement speaking techniques avoiding having a stuttering block. (Builds awareness and control and forms basis upon which to build confidence)

SHADOWING OR PARROTING - Stutterer and clinician read (or speak) in unison. (Minimally useful technique, enables stutterer to demonstrate change in his/her speaking process)

SLOW RATE - Patient speaks at a steady, reduced rate. (Promotes relaxation and tension reduction; enables speaker more time to implement other speech targets; has almost universally beneficial affect of diminishing the number and severity of disfluencies)

SMOOTH SPEECH - Speaking in a manner that emphasizes the continuity of speech; generally at slightly reduced rate with forward ballistic movement. (Emphasizes the sensation of continuous movement and transitions from syllable to syllable and word to word)

SOFT VOICE - Using significantly less intensity and muscular effort initiating voice and continuing to speak. (Develops relaxed control of voice onset and speaking voice)

SYLLABLE STRETCH - Elongating the voiced component of a syllable during speech; often for up to two seconds. (Slows rate; focuses attention on the volitional act of speaking; builds prosodic elements of speech and continuity of syllables)

VOLITIONAL CONTROL --> UNMONITORED SPEECH - Beginning the first few syllables or words of an utterance in a controlled manner, then "letting go" using spontaneous fluency. Develops control of speaking, monitoring and "self reinforcement")

VOLUNTARY STUTTERING (PSEUDO-STUTTERING) - Volitionally stuttering on words, imitating one's own or a different form of stuttering. (Desensitizes and discloses stuttering, enables volitional control)

WHITE NOISE OR MASKING - Noise is used at an intensity level great enough to impair the speaker's ability to hear his/her own speech. Some devices are "voice activated", turning on the masking as the patient begins to speak. Many view the device as "gimmicky" and yielding only temporary results. (Reduces auditory feedback, emphasizes oral proprioceptive feedback; some object to wearing the device; may serve as a means to diminish fear of stuttering)

© Rentschler, 2001