Stutter No More
by Doctor Martin F Schwartz.
Simon & Schuster, New York 1991. 144 pages.

Dr Martin Schwartz believes he can stop you stammering - and tells all about it in his new book. The Winter 1991 issue of 'Speaking Out' asked two eminent British therapists to examine his claims:

First, from Celia Levy:

In 1976, Schwartz first published a book called Stuttering Solved, a pretentious claim to have discovered not only the cause of stuttering, but also the cure. Now in 1991, we have the sequel, not Stuttering Resolved or even Stuttering Solved II, but Stutter No More!

In this latest publication, Schwartz has described essentially the same approach to stuttering, with a few additional details of his therapy. This time we are made aware that although the technique is simple, considerable time is needed to stabilise the new behaviours, and hard work is required to break down old attitudes and behaviour patterns. He claims a 93.4% success rate with his technique. This figure is based on working with 625 clients as outlined below. He evaluated them at the end of 12 months and 96% were fluent; by the end of 24 months, 93% were fluent. Success was defined as the ability to "function routinely without stuttering, word-or-sound-substituting, or avoiding speaking situations" (p.136).

There are many similarities with his first book: again, he described other work without providing sources. However, his style is chatty and informal, which makes it very accessible and easy to read. He implies that his technique is suitable for all people who stammer, despite growing evidence that not all people respond to the same approach in the same way. There are many questions left unanswered.

Treatment involves perfecting a technique called passive airflow prior to speech. Lengthy and detailed practice routines lead to the person being more and more able to use the technique in connected speech. Some work on toughening is tackled, which in the main consists of learning to resist time pressure. This basic training takes approximately four weeks, and is followed by a few cycles of bridging exercises, which aim to stabilise the new behaviour. During this phase the person works for three weeks consecutively, and then has a week off, followed by another three weeks of speech work. This phase ceases when the new habit is automatic.

Relapse is prevented by assaulting the subconscious. A new identity has to be established for a person who has always stammered. The first technique involves the person lying in a bathtub of warm water by candle light, and after going through meditation exercises, the person recites various affirmations which help motivate him to practise his technique and accept change. Support is considered important too. Clients are encouraged to seek speech therapy, attended refresher courses, phone in to the National Stutterer's Hotline, attend clubs and celebratory banquets.

So far, I am sure many readers will have recognised the familiar outline of a behavioural approach to stammering therapy. The airflow technique may seem different, but is actually known to many people in this country in the form of easy onsets. What is missing from this programme are the way in which to adapt it to meet a particular individual's stammering pattern and needs. Schwartz has over-simplified stammering as arising from one basic cause needing one basic therapy. His work on establishing a new identity as a fluent speaker makes it seem that a lifetime of stammering can be washed away in a hew hot baths! We know how long and painstaking a task it is to begin to think fluently.

While his results are impressive, we need to know more about the quality of the resulting fluency (absence of stammering is not enough) and also what happens to his clients over five years without therapy. We need to know more about the abuses of the technique. Many years ago, when Lee Emerick visited the UK, he described failed Schwartz clients as the heavy breathing brigade, recognisable by forced exhalation at the start of speaking.

In conclusion, we have on our hands yet another claim for a cure. I remain a doubting sceptic.

Secondly, from Margaret Evesham:

This book is easy to read and could be an encouragement to do something about a stutter. It is a pity the author makes some extravagant claims in the introduction and the publishers make even more on the cover. I did not like the obvious attempts to sell the treatment either.

No one can expect to be able to learn the technique by reading this book but may be encouraged to learn how others have become fluent. The programme described certainly has ingredients for success - a combination of methods to produce fluency, a highly structured teaching programme, and intensive period of treatment, help to overcome associated psychological difficulties, follow-up sessions and support. All these ingredients can be found in programmes in Britain though not in every region! So you do not need to rush off to America.

If you are able to ignore the basic theory and the salesmanship this book is worth reading. The most important lesson to learn I believe is that there are no short cuts to fluency for the stutterer but hard work and perserverance can bring some success for many people.

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