The Oxford Dysfluency Conference in July 2008 drew participants from around the globe. Speech and language therapist Neil Smith looks back at the experience.

The ODC is a major international conference which takes place every three years.

They say you always remember the first time.

The ODC 2008 was my first time, so as a conference virgin I was anxious about what to expect, slightly daunted by the scale of the event and overawed by my first conference encounter. It was obvious from the outset that my initial thoughts were misguided and I need not worry as the first keynote speaker, Marc Shell, opened proceedings with a bang in his own inimitable style.

Marc, the author of 'Stutter', provided a personal insight into how he 'survived' his stammer and suggested, through an array of literary reference and metaphor, the link between walking and talking. He was followed by Per Alm who presented recent research findings on brain activity and basal ganglia functioning in relation to stammering. This fascinating first session was extremely thought provoking and left me wanting to know more.

Coffee on the first day was a hub of excitement with people catching up with old friends and discussing the presentations that had gone before. Lunchtime was also a great way to meet people and make new acquaintances. I particularly enjoyed the fact that everyone was so friendly, passionate and cared so strongly about the often puzzling and complex disorder we call stammering.

The rest of the day flew by with seamless efficiency and the wealth of information, statistics, personal insights, studies, future consideration and implications for my own practice were buzzing around in my head. Dinner was a perfect way to digest the day's events in an amiable, relaxed environment.

Entertainment

Following dinner, we headed to the bar for the National Disorders of Fluency Special Interest Group's evening of entertainment. I soon found myself a member of the Mumbling Monroe's team and it was quickly apparent that there were some hidden skills amongst us. Notably, Norbert who demonstrated his astonishing ability to transport an M&M, 6 feet from cup to cup, using only a straw and his mastery of intercostal breathing techniques.

The evening progressed with much mirth and merriment and a game of charades, with teams admirably miming conference presentations including 'Looking at stuttering through the lens of complexity', 'Seeing things for what they are, no more, no less: The Buddhists Philosophy' and 'Identifying trajectories in childhood stuttering'.

Proceedings were held together and delegates held in check with a stellar performance by the peerless Master of Ceremonies, Monica Bray, who duly rounded off events by crowning the Mumbling Monroe's the worthy winners.

What value therapy?

Enthused, Saturday started with the energy and irrepressible ebullience of Paul Dolan and his presentation entitled 'Stuttering into Happiness' which definitely removed any lasting tiredness from the previous night's exertions. As an economist who also stammers, he talked about ways of comparing the benefit of providing therapy for stammering versus treatment for other health conditions. He became a much quoted and inspirational speaker from the weekend as he challenged therapists and people who stammer to measure and change the things that really matter to people's quality of life, particularly to what they think and feel.

The rest of the day's programme was equally enjoyable with presentations ranging from the effectiveness of a prototype TAD (telephone assistive device) to differential diagnostic characteristics between cluttering and stuttering, via Anne Smith's fascinating research into the onset of stammering, behavioural and physiological differences in children who stammer and their potential clinical implications.

Saturday night saw more social activity with the delicious banquet dinner, free flowing wine and guest of honour, Michael Palin, giving a moving and poignant speech about how his family dealt with his father's stammering. He described how he came to play the role of the hapless stammerer, Ken Pile, in the film 'A fish called Wanda' and reminded us that while the research into and treatment of stammering and its awareness in society is developing fast, we all have a responsibility to ensure that it long continues.

Dave Rowley closed the conference at Sunday lunchtime with words of thanks to St. Catherine's college, keynote speakers, presenters and delegates. I would like to thank them all too but also thank him for arranging such a wonderful event and to everyone who made the weekend so memorable and thought provoking.

Future practice

The conference was a positive yet informal learning environment and I felt I learnt so much from the weekend. The research evidence into the effects of basal ganglia functioning in stammering and its possible link to other motoric difficulties was fascinating.

I feel that a close working relationship with clients is essential and the key to effective therapy and the need for this was constantly reinforced, as well as the need to measure and evaluate the things that are really important. As a result of the weekend, I will incorporate updated information on stammering treatments into my work and will adapt my own clinical practice to reflect the key themes of the conference.

So, as I am now no longer a conference virgin, will I remember the first time? The undoubted answer is yes. I have fond memories of the whole experience and I would recommend the ODC to anyone who has a professional or personal interest in stammering.

As I drove home on Sunday afternoon, head spinning with information and full of new ideas, neural pathways most definitely firing, I looked forward to getting some reflective thoughts and research questions down on paper, and to the next ODC. Shame we have to wait 3 years really.

Neil Smith works as a speech and language therapist for Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust

From the Autumn 2008 edition of Speaking Out, pages 14-15.

Also from the ODC 2008:
Some papers on work with young children
Valuing therapy - keynote speech by economist Paul Dolan
Comments by Anne Smith