Abstract
As a direct result of the prevalence of Aristotelian thinking in the field of speech pathology, research and theorizing has tended to ignore the individual, his unique characteristics and differences, and to concentrate on what is common between individuals. The therapist is therefore faced with being unable to utilize effectively any particular theory, since none of them explains the unique attributes of the individual case with which he has to deal. A non-Aristotelian approach to research on stuttering seems to hold more promise of attaining an eventual understanding of the individual stutterer.
Highlights
It is the writer's contention that the difficulties inherent in the field of speech therapy have been underestimated and misunderstood
That the theories and facts he brings into the therapy situation be of the type that allows him to take cognizance of the individuality of each patient, in order to devise an effective therapeutic programme. It is the individuality of each case that, in the writer's opinion, is the crucial problem in speech therapy
Taylor1'1 has argued that a psychological theory should not consist of a catalogue of variables in terms of their frequency of occurrence, but should explain how these variables hang together in the individual. It is this approach to the problem of stuttering that the writer considers will offer us the greatest possibility of attaining an understanding of the individual stutterer
Summary
It is the writer's contention that the difficulties inherent in the field of speech therapy have been underestimated and misunderstood. It is believed that when this is accomplished, a creative theorist will arrive to conceptualize and organize this data into a comprehensive theory indicating the significance of, and the interrelationships between the facts as known, thereby providing a scientific basis for therapy This leads to an acceptance of all research as being valuable in that, if nothing else, it contributes to our basic store of knowledge. Theoretical understanding alone is insufficient; in addition the therapist has to apply his knowledge in actual therapy It is essential, that the theories and facts he brings into the therapy situation be of the type that allows him to take cognizance of the individuality of each patient, in order to devise an effective therapeutic programme. A similar discussion could be held on other areas in speech therapy
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