Childhood Stuttering: Case-Based Examples of Multidimensional Treatment.

Abstract

A well-known parable depicts six blind men investigating the nature of an elephant through touch.[1] Each observer, interfacing with the elephant from a single vantage point (i.e., side, trunk, tusk, leg, ear, tail), reaches an independent conclusion (i.e., wall, snake, spear, large cow, carpet, or rope), seemingly incompatible with those of his peers. In the field of stuttering, and many others, this tale serves to remind us that a single or narrow view of the complexities of human nature falls short, as the whole is greater than any one perspective or even than the sum of its parts.[2] [3] Given this understanding, in recent decades, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have become increasingly well-versed in applying theories, models, and evidence from research to clinical service provision across client populations, including those who stutter.[4] [5] [6]