<h1>Enhancing Communication in Autism</h1>
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects communication skills in individuals. Speech therapy plays a pivotal role in supporting individuals with autism to enhance their communication abilities and improve overall quality of life. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of setting goals in speech therapy for individuals with autism and discuss effective intervention strategies that therapists employ to facilitate meaningful progress.
Understanding Autism and Communication Challenges
Autism presents a unique set of challenges that impact social interaction, language development, and sensory processing. Individuals with autism may struggle with nonverbal communication, understanding social cues, expressing their needs, and engaging in meaningful conversations. These communication difficulties can significantly hinder their ability to connect with others and navigate daily life.
Setting Goals in Speech Therapy for Autism
Goal setting is a fundamental aspect of speech therapy for individuals with autism. It involves collaboratively establishing specific and measurable objectives to guide the therapeutic process. Here are key considerations when setting goals:
<ol>
<li>Individualized Approach</li>
</ol>
Recognize that each person with autism has unique communication strengths and challenges. Tailor goals to their specific needs, focusing on their areas of growth and functional communication targets.
<ol start="2">
<li>Long-Term and Short-Term Goals</li>
</ol>
Develop a comprehensive plan that includes both long-term objectives, which reflect broader communication milestones, and short-term objectives, which break down the goals into manageable steps.
<ol start="3">
<li>Functional and Meaningful Objectives</li>
</ol>
Prioritize goals that have practical applications in real-life situations, enabling individuals with autism to communicate effectively in various contexts, such as at home, school, and the community.
<ol start="4">
<li>Communication Domains</li>
</ol>
Address different communication domains, including speech production, receptive and expressive language, pragmatic language skills (e.g., turn-taking, maintaining eye contact), and social interaction.
Effective Intervention Strategies in Speech Therapy for Autism
Speech therapists utilize evidence-based strategies to support individuals with autism in achieving their communication goals. Here are some effective intervention approaches:
<ul>
<li>
Visual Supports and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): Visual aids, such as visual schedules (TEACCH), social stories, and picture exchange communication systems, such as PECS, can enhance understanding and facilitate expressive communication.
</li>
<li>
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Techniques: ABA principles are often integrated into speech therapy to reinforce positive behaviors, teach new skills, and promote generalization of communication abilities.
</li>
<li>
Structured and Naturalistic Language Intervention: A combination of structured activities and naturalistic play-based interactions helps develop language skills, encourage spontaneous communication, and foster social engagement.
</li>
<li>
Social Communication Training: Targeting social skills and pragmatic language, therapy sessions focus on developing turn-taking, initiating and maintaining conversations, interpreting nonverbal cues, and perspective-taking.
</li>
<li>
Parent and Caregiver Involvement: Collaboration with parents and caregivers is vital for generalization of skills beyond therapy sessions. Training and support are provided to extend speech therapy techniques into everyday routines and activities.
</li>
</ul>
Speech therapy plays a vital role in empowering individuals with autism to improve their communication abilities. By setting individualized goals and employing evidence-based intervention strategies, speech therapists help individuals with autism unlock their communication potential, fostering connections and meaningful participation in their communities. Through consistent support and collaboration with families, speech therapy can make a profound impact on the lives of individuals with autism, enabling them to thrive and reach their full potential.
From the Synopsis Team

Enhancing Communication in Autism

<h1>Articulation Disorder and Treatment</h1>
As a speech therapist, you may have encountered clients with articulation disorders. These are speech disorders that affect a person's ability to produce speech sounds correctly, leading to difficulties in being understood by others. In this article, we will delve deeper into what articulation disorder is, the symptoms, and the various treatment options that can help your clients improve their speech.
What is Articulation Disorder?
Articulation disorder is a type of speech disorder that affects a person's ability to produce specific speech sounds correctly. This can result in difficulties in being understood by others, leading to frustration and social isolation. The disorder can occur at any age, but it is most common in children. It is estimated that around 8% of children have articulation disorders.
What are the symptoms of articulation disorder?
A child with a speech disorder may have one or more of these signs and symptoms:
<ol>
<li>Addition: Adding sounds or syllables to words that don’t belong there (for example, “puh-lay” instead of “play”).</li>
<li>Distortion: Changing a sound, which might seem like a lisp (when “s” sounds like “th”).</li>
<li>Omission: Leaving certain sounds out of their speech altogether (for example, never using “sc” in “school or “scratch”).</li>
<li>Substitution: Always substituting one sound for another (for example, using “s” instead of “th” or “w” in place of “r”).</li>
</ol>
Treatment Options for Articulation Disorder
There are various treatment options available for individuals with articulation disorder. As a speech therapist, it is important to tailor the treatment plan to the individual's specific needs and goals. Here are some of the most common treatment options:
<ul>
<li>Articulation Therapy</li>
</ul>
Articulation therapy involves working with the individual to identify specific speech sounds that are difficult for them to produce and developing exercises to help them improve their pronunciation. This can involve techniques such as using mirrors to help the individual see their mouth movements, practicing specific sounds in isolation, and gradually incorporating the sounds into words and sentences.
<ul>
<li>Oral Motor Therapy</li>
</ul>
Oral motor therapy focuses on strengthening the muscles used in speech production. The speech therapist will work with the individual to develop exercises to improve their tongue and mouth movements, making it easier for them to produce speech sounds accurately. Examples of exercises can include blowing bubbles, using straws to drink liquids, and practicing tongue movements.
<ul>
<li>Language Therapy</li>
</ul>
Language therapy is another approach to treating articulation disorder that can be beneficial for some individuals. This type of therapy focuses on improving the individual's overall language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. Improving these skills can enhance the individual's ability to communicate effectively, making it easier for them to be understood by others.
<blockquote>
Articulation disorder is a common speech disorder that affects many individuals, particularly children. As a speech therapist, it is important to be able to identify and diagnose different symptoms of articulation disorders. Treatment options can include articulation therapy, oral motor therapy, and language therapy. By tailoring the treatment plan to the individual's specific needs and goals, you can help your clients improve their speech and communication skills, leading to better quality of life and social interactions.
</blockquote>
From the Synopsis Team

Articulation Disorder: Symptoms and Treatment 

<h1>Occupational Therapy for Aging Adults</h1>
As we age, our bodies and minds may change, and we may face challenges that limit our ability to perform everyday tasks. Occupational therapy is a form of therapy that can help aging adults maintain their independence and quality of life.
Functional Assessment
The first step in promoting independence and quality of life in aging adults is to conduct a functional assessment. This can involve evaluating the individual's abilities and limitations, as well as their goals for maintaining their independence. A functional assessment can help identify areas where the individual may need assistance or modifications to their environment.
Home Modification
Home modification is another effective strategy not only for independence but also for fall prevention. This can involve making changes to the individual's living space to better accommodate their needs and reduce the fall risk, such as installing grab bars in the bathroom, adding ramps or stairlifts, or modifying the kitchen for easier access.
Adaptive Equipment
Adaptive equipment can also be a useful tool for promoting independence. This can include tools such as reachers, shower chairs, or special utensils to help with eating. Adaptive equipment can help aging adults perform everyday tasks more easily and with less strain on their bodies.
Exercise and Physical Activity
Exercise and physical activity are important for maintaining physical and mental health in aging adults. Occupational therapists can help design exercise programs that are tailored to the individual's abilities and limitations. Exercise can help improve strength, balance, and flexibility, as well as boost mood and cognitive function.
Cognitive Stimulation
Cognitive stimulation plays an important role in occupational therapy for aging adults. Activities such as puzzles, memory games, or art projects can help stimulate the mind and promote cognitive function. Cognitive stimulation can help improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
Assistive Technology
This can include tools such as medication reminders, smart home devices, or telehealth services. Assistive technology can help aging adults stay connected, manage their health, and perform everyday tasks more easily.
Collaborating with Caregivers
Caregivers can be a crucial part in supporting the individual's goals for maintaining independence and quality of life. Occupational therapists can work with caregivers to provide support, guidance, and education on strategies for promoting independence and quality of life.
<blockquote>
While aging can bring challenges and limitations, occupational therapy offers a unique and effective approach to promote independence, improve quality of life, and enhance overall well-being.
</blockquote>
From the Synopsis Team

Occupational Therapy for Aging Adults

<h1>Helping Patients to Apply Therapy Goals in Real-Life Situations</h1>
Therapy goals are essential for helping patients achieve their desired outcomes, but applying these goals in real-life situations can be a challenge. The transition from the clinic to everyday life can be difficult, and patients may struggle to apply what they've learned in therapy to their daily routines. In this blog post, we'll explore some tips and strategies for helping patients apply therapy goals in real-life situations.
Provide Practice Opportunities
One of the most effective ways to help patients apply therapy goals in real-life situations is to provide practice opportunities. This can involve role-playing, simulations, or even in vivo exposure to situations that trigger anxiety or stress. By providing patients with practice opportunities, they can gain confidence and develop the skills they need to apply therapy goals in real-life situations.
Encourage Generalisation
Generalisation is the process of applying therapy goals to a wide range of situations, rather than just the specific situation in which they were learned. Encouraging generalisation is an important part of helping patients apply therapy goals in real-life situations. This can involve discussing how therapy goals can be applied to different situations, or providing patients with tools and strategies for generalising their skills.
Collaborate with Support Systems
Collaborating with support systems, such as family members or caregivers, is another effective way to help patients apply therapy goals in real-life situations. Support systems can play a crucial role in reinforcing therapy goals and providing patients with the support they need to apply these goals in their daily lives. It's important to involve support systems in the therapy process and provide them with the tools and strategies they need to support their loved ones.
Provide Feedback and Reinforcement
Providing feedback and reinforcement is an essential part of helping patients apply therapy goals in real-life situations. By providing regular positive feedback and reinforcement, patients are more likely to feel motivated and confident in their ability to apply therapy goals in their daily lives. It's important to provide specific and meaningful feedback that reinforces progress and helps patients stay on track towards their goals.
Use Technology
Technology can be an effective tool for helping patients apply therapy goals in real-life situations. For example, our platform at Synopsis App includes a wide range of activities that have been curated by experienced therapists to help patients achieve their therapeutic goals. Our platform also includes tools for scheduling appointments, generating reports, and communicating with patients and colleagues, making it easy for therapists to provide effective and efficient care.
Provide Follow-Up Support
Providing follow-up support is an important part of helping patients apply therapy goals in real-life situations. This can involve scheduling follow-up appointments, providing ongoing support and guidance, or even setting up virtual coaching sessions. By providing ongoing support, patients are more likely to feel supported and confident in their ability to apply therapy goals in their daily lives.
<blockquote>
By providing practice opportunities, encouraging generalization, collaborating with support systems, providing feedback and reinforcement, using technology, and providing follow-up support, therapists can help patients overcome the challenges of applying therapy goals in real-life situations. By working collaboratively with patients and their support systems, therapists can help ensure that their patients receive the support and care they need to achieve their desired outcomes.
</blockquote>
From the Synopsis Team

Helping Patients to Apply Therapy Goals in Real-Life Situations

<h1>Collaboration with Parents: How to Work with Parents to Support Their Child's Therapy Goals</h1>
Collaboration with parents is an essential part of providing effective therapy for children. Parents are often the most important and consistent presence in a child's life, and they play a crucial role in supporting their child's therapy goals. In this blog post, we'll explore some strategies for working with parents to support their child's therapy goals.
Establishing a Positive Relationship
The first step in collaborating with parents is to establish a positive relationship. It's important to build rapport with parents and make them feel comfortable and supported throughout the therapy process. This can involve taking the time to listen to their concerns and understanding their goals for their child's therapy.
Sharing Information
Sharing information is an important part of collaborating with parents. It's important to keep parents informed about their child's progress, including what they're working on in therapy and how they're progressing towards their goals. This can involve providing regular updates, sharing progress reports, or even inviting parents to observe therapy sessions.
Setting Goals Together
Collaborating with parents means setting goals together. It's important to work with parents to set goals that are meaningful and achievable for their child. This can involve discussing their child's strengths and weaknesses and identifying areas where they would like to see improvement. By involving parents in the goal-setting process, they become invested in their child's therapy and are more likely to support their progress.
Providing Strategies for Home
Providing strategies for home is another important part of collaborating with parents. Parents can play a crucial role in supporting their child's therapy goals by practicing strategies and activities at home. It's important to provide parents with clear instructions and guidance on how to implement these strategies at home. This can involve providing handouts, modeling activities, or even setting up virtual coaching sessions.
Encouraging Communication
Encouraging communication is essential for effective collaboration with parents. It's important to provide multiple ways for parents to communicate with their child's therapist, including email, phone, or even text messaging. This can help ensure that parents feel supported and connected to their child's therapy process.
Emphasizing Positive Reinforcement
Emphasizing positive reinforcement is important for building a positive relationship with parents and supporting their child's therapy goals. By providing regular positive feedback and reinforcement, parents are more likely to support their child's progress and feel engaged in the therapy process.
Being Flexible
Being flexible is another key strategy for collaborating with parents. Parents have busy schedules and competing priorities, and it's important to be flexible and accommodating in scheduling appointments and providing support. This can involve providing options for virtual appointments, rescheduling appointments as needed, or even providing in-home therapy sessions.
In conclusion, collaborating with parents is an essential part of providing effective therapy for children. By establishing a positive relationship, sharing information, setting goals together, providing strategies for home, encouraging communication, emphasizing positive reinforcement, and being flexible, therapists can work together with parents to support their child's therapy goals. By working collaboratively with parents, therapists can help ensure that their child receives the support and care they need to thrive.
From the Synopsis Team

Collaborating with Parents: How to Work with Parents to Support Their Child's Therapy Goals

<h1>Maximizing Your Time: How to Use Synopsis App to Manage a Busy Therapy Schedule</h1>
As a therapist, your time is incredibly valuable. You want to spend as much time as possible working with your patients and helping them achieve their goals. But managing your busy therapy schedule can be a real challenge.
That's where the Synopsis App comes in. With our powerful platform, you can streamline your workflow, manage your therapy schedule more efficiently, and focus on what you do best: providing the best possible care for your patients. In this post, we'll explore some tips and best practices for using Synopsis App to maximize your time and manage your therapy schedule more effectively.
Use the scheduling features to stay organized
One of the key benefits of the Synopsis App is its powerful scheduling features. With just a few clicks, you can schedule therapy sessions, set reminders, and manage your appointments. Make sure to take advantage of these features to stay organized and on top of your schedule.
Customize your therapy plans for each patient
Every patient is unique, with their own goals, challenges, and needs. With the Synopsis App, you can customize your therapy plans for each patient, tailoring your approach to their individual needs. Use the app's user-friendly interface to select the activities that are most suitable for each patient, and monitor their progress over time.
Share your therapy plans with colleagues
Collaboration is key when it comes to providing effective therapy for patients. With the Synopsis App, you can easily share your therapy plans with your colleagues, so everyone is on the same page when it comes to a patient's progress. This can be especially helpful if you're working with a team of therapists, or if you need to hand off a patient to another provider.
Take advantage of the app's wide range of activities
The Synopsis App has a wide range of activities that have been curated by experienced speech and occupational therapists. These activities are designed to help your patients achieve their goals, and they're a great resource for therapists who are looking for new ideas and approaches. Take some time to explore the app's activities and find ones that are most suitable for your patients.
Make use of the app's user-friendly interface
Finally, don't underestimate the power of a user-friendly interface. The Synopsis App is designed to be easy to use and intuitive, so you can spend more time focusing on your patients and less time wrestling with technology. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the app's interface, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
In conclusion, the Synopsis App is a powerful tool for therapists who are looking to manage their busy therapy schedules more efficiently. By using the app's scheduling features, customizing your therapy plans, sharing your plans with colleagues, generating reports, taking advantage of the app's activities, and using the app's user-friendly interface, you can save time and energy while providing the best possible care for your patients. If you haven't already, give the Synopsis App a try and see how it can transform your therapy practice.
From the Synopsis Team

Maximizing Your Time: How to Use Synopsis App to Manage a Busy Therapy Schedule

<h1>Sensory Play</h1>
When a child is born, its sensory systems are not fully developed, but they mature over the next few months. Each new experience gained through different sensations creates neural connections that help the development of the architecture of the brain. The senses are the child's tool for exploring and understanding the world.
What are the benefits of sensory play?
<ol>
<li>
It helps brain development by helping to create new neural connections. This develops new skills and leads to optimal learning and retaining information.
</li>
<li>
Develops body awareness, i.e. the skill that combines body scheme, i.e. where our body is in space, and body image, i.e. where our body parts are and what they do. This skill is essential for the development of motor skills.
</li>
<li>
Improves motor skills, specifically gross and fine motor coordination.
</li>
<li>
Enhances the development of problem-solving strategies.
</li>
<li>
Improves language skills, as through the exploration of new stimuli, children discover new ways to describe objects found around them.
</li>
<li>
It helps emotional and behavioural regulation. Some types of sensory play can calm or help children with self-regulation.
</li>
<li>
Improves social skills. The process of sharing experiences with parents and other children during sensory play promotes social and emotional development.
</li>
</ol>
We understand that the benefits of sensory play are many. Here are some activities through which each system can receive additional stimulation.
<ol>
<li>Vestibular System : contributes to balance and orientation in space. It is the leading system informing us about movement and position of head relative to gravity. Activities that develop a healthy vestibular system are:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Activities on the playground, such as seesaw, swing,merry-go-round, slide</li>
<li>Swinging in a swing or hammock and moving it with the hands</li>
<li>Bouncing on the bed, on a trampoline or sitting on a hippity hop ball</li>
<li>Riding a bicycle and swimming</li>
<li>Rolling from one end of the carpet to the other (like a barrel)</li>
<li>Do somersaults on a soft surface</li>
<li>Walking on the edge of the pavement with one foot in front of the other</li>
<li>Balance beam</li>
</ul>
<ol start="2">
<li>Proprioception System : senses the position, location, orientation, and movement of the body muscles and joints. Proprioception is activated by input to a proprioceptor in the periphery of the body. The following activities are suggested to strengthen this system:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Climbing a wall, a piece of furniture, a rope, a slide (from bottom to top)</li>
<li>Monkey bars</li>
<li>Crawling under furniture with alternating legs and arms (commando crawling)</li>
<li>Pushing heavy objects and furniture</li>
<li>Pulling a rope (tug of war) and stretching a resistance band</li>
<li>Games with heavy balls, such as basketball</li>
<li>Manually squeezing oranges to make juice</li>
<li>Participating in household chores, for example carrying 2 supermarket bags, carrying a moderately heavy bowl of clothes to spread, etc.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
For safety reasons we are careful how much weight a child lifts. The weight of the object should not exceed 10% of the child's weight.
</blockquote>
<ol start="3">
<li>Tactile System : It has receptors in the skin and is responsible for processing touch information from the body. To enhance this system, it is good to have a variety of materials.</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Play with the sand or pebbles at the beach</li>
<li>Play on grass</li>
<li>Gardening activities to use soil, leaves etc.</li>
<li>Rolling on blankets of different textures (fleece, cotton, etc.)</li>
<li>Large boxes filled with different materials each or with combinations of materials (legumes, rice, flour, soapy water, shaving foam, finger paints, jelly, pebbles, soil, corn, pom-poms, leaves, pine cones, etc.)</li>
<li>Use sponges with different sponges during showering</li>
<li>Play in a ball pit</li>
</ul>
<ol start="4">
<li>Visual System : it is responsible for seeing. Through vision can we recognise an object and where it is in the room. Activities to strengthen the visual system are:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Toys with different colours and lights</li>
<li>Toys with contrasts (bright and soft colours) and shapes</li>
<li>&quot;Hide and seek&quot;: the child should find objects that you have hidden in the room or in the yard</li>
<li>Labyrinths (3D where the child moves the base or on the paper)</li>
<li>Construction games with a template (i.e. copying from a picture) or free construction</li>
<li>Kaleidoscope</li>
</ul>
<ol start="5">
<li>Auditory System : it is responsible for hearing, identifying the sound and its source. The ear also plays an important role in balance and posture position. The following are usefull auditory activities:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Bell parade</li>
<li>Record backyard sounds and play back the recording. Try to recognize and name the sound and where it was located in the yard.</li>
<li>Fill containers with items from the backyard. Shake plastic containers or even paper bags with the items and see if your child can name the objects.</li>
<li>Play Marco Polo in the yard</li>
<li>Musical instruments and music in general with different volume and tempo</li>
<li>Rainmaker</li>
<li>Production of music with objects (tapping objects by hand or with a wooden spoon)</li>
<li>Kazoo sound hunt</li>
</ul>
<ol start="6">
<li>Olfactory and Gustatory Systems : The olfactory system is responsible for processing smell and the gustatory system is responsible for the sense of taste. Activities that the child can do are:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Identifying different foods with eyes closed</li>
<li>Experimenting with foods at different temperatures</li>
<li>Classifying objects by smell (which ones smell bad and which ones smell good)</li>
<li>Classification by taste (sweet, sour, bitter, salty)</li>
</ul>
<hr>
The activities are just indicative. Activities of different systems can be combined. Always make sure that there is a variety of stimuli, but that it is not chaotic for the child.
It should also be good to remember that free sensory play is necessary and more important than organised one, as this is the best way for the child to develop his or her sensory systems.
From the Synopsis team
Angelina Chatzaki, Occupational Therapist

Sensory Play

<h1>Stuttering</h1>
Core symptoms
We all have times when we do not speak smoothly. We may add &quot;uh&quot; or &quot;you know&quot; to what we say. Or, we may say a sound or word more than once. These are called disfluencies.
People who stutter may have more disfluencies and different types of disfluencies. They may repeat parts of words (repetitions), stretch a sound out for a long time (prolongations), or have a hard time getting a word out (blocks).
The following types of disfluencies happen when someone stutters:
<ul>
<li>Part-word repetitions – &quot;I wa-wa-wa-want a cookie.&quot;</li>
<li>One-syllable word repetitions – “My-my-my name is.”</li>
<li>Prolonged sounds – “Fffffffrank is nice.&quot;</li>
<li>Blocks or stops – &quot;I want a (pause) glass of water.&quot;</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
These core symptoms can vary in frequency and severity and the individual's situation and personal condition.
</blockquote>
Accompanying symptoms
Many people who stutter develop accompanying symptoms. They can be visible, for example tension of the facial muscles or body movements. Invisible are accompanying symptoms such as fear of speaking or the avoidance and concealment of stuttering. Words are exchanged at lightning speed, filler words are used or speaking situations are generally avoided.
Accompanying symptoms can be extremely stressful for people who stutter in everyday life, become more severe and lead to social withdrawal.
Why does one stutter?
Speaking itself is a highly complex process. Our brain must receive and process a multitude of impulses in order for the speech process to work. Some of these processes are impaired in people who stutter. The area of the brain responsible for controlling the speech muscles is not supplied without interference by the other areas involved. Thus, the preparation for the upcoming speech task fails - the person stutters.
According to current knowledge, the main cause of stuttering is seen in an inherited predisposition to it, which does not necessarily, but with a high probability, lead to the occurrence of stuttering. Stuttering is therefore a neurologically caused disturbance of the flow of speech. It does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the intelligence, character or origin of the person affected.
According to the NIDCD, stuttering affects people of all ages. It occurs most often in children between the ages of 2 and 6 as they are developing their language skills. Approximately 5 to 10 percent of all children will stutter for some period in their life, lasting from a few weeks to several years. Boys are 2 to 3 times as likely to stutter as girls and as they get older this gender difference increases; the number of boys who continue to stutter is 3 to 4 times larger than the number of girls.
Treatment
Speech Therapy
After a comprehensive evaluation by a speech-language pathologist, a decision about the best treatment approach can be made. Several different approaches are available to treat children and adults who stutter.
Basically, there are two different therapy approaches used by speech therapists: Stuttering Modification on the one hand, and Fluency Shaping on the other. Both therapy programs last several weeks and especially Fluency Shaping requires intensive practice of the new speech patterns, as well as regular sessions after the end of therapy in order to avoid relapses.
<ol>
<li>Stuttering Modification/Non-Avoidance Approach:</li>
</ol>
Stuttering modification is not about trying to avoid stuttering, but learning how to deal with it better. The therapy approach is divided into 4 phases:
<ul>
<li>Phase 1- Identification: the person who stutters observes when stuttering events occur and how they feel about them.</li>
<li>Phase 2- Desensitization: Stuttering is intentionally observed in order to reduce negative feelings about stuttering by becoming accustomed to it and to notice during practical exercises that the listeners usually react very tolerantly to stuttering.</li>
<li>Phase 3- Modification: Techniques are learned to make stuttering more fluent - pauses are inserted, stuttered words are repeated slowly or are pronounced more slowly in the first place.</li>
<li>Phase 4- Stabilization: Finally, the fluent stuttering and the more relaxed way of dealing with it are stabilized and adopted into everyday life.</li>
</ul>
<ol start="2">
<li>Fluency Shaping:</li>
</ol>
Fluency shaping is the systematic development of a fluent way of speaking. The main focus of fluency shaping intervention is to increase fluent speech through teaching, for example, one or more of the following: easy onsets, loose contacts, changing breathing, prolonging sounds or words, pausing, as well as other methods that reduce speaking rate. The overall goal is to encourage spontaneous fluency where possible and controlled fluency when it is not.
<blockquote>
Through Synopsis app the speech therapist can find very quickly fluency goals, in order to plan her therapy treatment in a more efficient way.
</blockquote>
Cognitive Behavioual Therapy: This type of psychotherapy can help the person who stutters learn to identify and change ways of thinking that might make stuttering worse. It can also help resolve stress, anxiety or self-esteem problems related to stuttering.
Electronic devices: Some people who stutter use electronic devices to help control fluency. For example, one type of device fits into the ear canal, much like a hearing aid, and digitally replays a slightly altered version of the wearer’s voice into the ear so that it sounds as if he or she is speaking in unison with another person. In some people, electronic devices may help improve fluency in a relatively short period of time. Additional research is needed to determine how long such effects may last and whether people are able to easily use and benefit from these devices in real-world situations. For these reasons, researchers are continuing to study the long-term effectiveness of these devices.
<hr>
There is no known cure for stuttering, and like any other speech disorder, it requires therapy and practice to treat or manage it.
Approximately 75% of children recover from stuttering. For the remaining 25% who continue to stutter, stuttering can persist as a lifelong communication disorder.
From the Synopsis Team

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