Foundations of Stuttering

There have been many theories about the cause of stuttering and many misconceptions exist. Currently, it is believed that a number of factors play a role in the development and maintenance of stuttering. These factors can be grouped and classified as constitutional, environmental, and communication factors. There is some evidence that stuttering is genetic; it does run in some families. There is also evidence that stuttering is due to a disorder in the timing of movements of speech muscles, a defect in auditory feedback, and a lack of cerebral dominance for language functions. Stuttering is not a symptom of emotional or mental problems, although it may become a source of stress and cause emotional difficulties. "Foundations of Stuttering" presents a new perspective on stuttering. A key aim of the book is to establish a rational and scientifically defensible foundation for the study and management of the stuttering disorder, based on the fact that stuttering is manifestly a disorder of speech. Central to this objective is the interrelation of findings from the fields of stuttering, psychology, psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics that support the analysis of stuttering as an intrinsic anomaly of speech production. The book presents critical analysis of much of the literature in the field to present a fully objective, scientifically oriented study of the disorder. Dr Wingate has made significant contributions in the area of fluency disorders. In 1969 and 1970, publication of articles that led to his Vocalization Hypothesis stimulated a great deal of research in the area of stuttering which underlies current theory approaches. This book: offers a new departure in understanding stuttering and a rational, non-theoretical analysis of the disorder; identifies a major principle central to the nature and management of stuttering; and, represents the culmination of forty years of study, research and clinical experience.

Table of Contents:
Part I: Orientation: Introduction Stuttering as Object Stuttering as Subject: Study of "The Thing Caused" Facts About Stuttering Part II: Impedimenta: Excess of Testimony Deceptive Concepts A Matter of Words Two Faces of Normal Speech Minimized Part III: Substance: Fluency Normal Speech Processes Speech and Stutter Neural Background Part IV: Denouement: Derivations References Index

About the Author :
Dr. Wingate received a Bachelor degree in psychology from Grinnell College, and Master and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Washington. During his time at the University of Washington, he received a Veterans Administration fellowship that required travel to three V. A. installations. His experiences in those facilities were a very valuable part of his education. While completing formal education he served as the psychologist for a children's hospital and a cerebral palsy center. About a year after receiving the doctorate he accepted a position as psychologist and faculty of the University of Washington speech pathology program. Dr. Wingate remained there until 1968; moved to SUNY Buffalo for five years; spent two years at the University of Arizona; then transferred to Washington State University, originally as chairman of what was then the Department of Speech.Immersion in speech pathology course work led Dr. Wingate to an interest in stuttering, especially because stuttering was believed so widely to be a psychological problem. However, from his range of clinical experiences, study of the relevant literature, and his own research, he soon came to be impressed that psychological interpretations of stuttering were much overdrawn. In particular, Dr. Wingate found the "evaluation theory" of Wendell Johnson, so broadly accepted, to be superficial and objectively unsupportable. His original critical analysis of that formulation appeared as a three-article series, published in the Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders in 1962. Inquiry into the nature of stuttering has remained his professional focus. His works, typically moving against the tides of belief, have just as typically evoked reaction - which continues. Nonetheless, he perceives a slow change of climate emerging in the field., which Foundations of Stuttering should help promote.

Review :
"This book is interesting and intellectually stimulating... Advanced students and speech-language pathologists can benefit from an opportunity to examine his challenges to some commonly accepted "facts" about stuttering. They may find his presentation of information enlightening and his discussion of logical and scientific methods instructive." ADVANCE FOR SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST & AUDIOLOGIST "This book claims to look objectively at previous literature on stuttering and show that they are without scientific sound evidence and therefore are invalid. The author manages to do an excellent job of practically ruling out all previous research on the basis that they lack credibility. This book is written in a refreshingly bold and frank manner that has the effect of making you question information which you had previously accepted. The author claims that 'testimonials' given by people who stammer are of 'limited relevance' and that many researchers bias their work with their own ideas and insupportable theories. The author firmly believes that stuttering is a disorder of speech production and are unique events within the process of speech. Wingate describes stuttering as '..events within the fabric of speech; they are tears in that fabric, which occur at points of vulnerability.' This is a must read to those interested in stuttering!" ENT NEWS "It presents a fresh perspective on stuttering, its discussion of logical and scientific methods is instructive and the book intellectually stimulating." SPEAKING OUT, BRITISH STAMMERING ASSOCIATION