Cancellation

Stuttering Modification Strategies

Cancellation is a great stuttering modification strategy that helps you modify how you stutter, reducing tension and regaining control. Keep reading to find out more about this strategy and how to practice at home. 

What is Cancellation?

Cancellation isn't about stopping stuttering entirely. It's about changing how you respond to it. Here's how it works:

1. Catch the Stutter: Be aware of the moment you begin to stutter. It might be a repeated sound, a block, or prolonged tension.
2. Pause: Briefly stop speaking. Take a moment to locate the tension in your body – is it in your jaw, tongue, or lips?
3. Release Tension: Relax the area where you feel the tension. Take a deep breath and let the tension go.
4. Restart: Speak the word again, this time with reduced tension. That's it!

Practice Cancelation

Before we get to practice, we must review pseudo stuttering. Pseudo stuttering, also known as voluntary stuttering, is where you stutter on purpose. This might sound counterintuitive, but it's necessary when practicing cancellation. 

Try intentionally stuttering on the words and sentences below, then follow the cancellation steps:

• c-c-cat (catch the stutter, pause, release tension, restart)
• I w-w-want to go to the p-p-park (catch the stutter, pause, release tension, restart each stuttered word)

Here are a few more practices:

• Word Level Practice:
  • shoe
  • door
  • chair
• Sentence Level Practice
  • After the storm, a rainbow appeared over the hills.
  • Bears usually hibernate in the winter to stay warm. 
  • During the game, the ball bounced out of bounds twice. 

Explore More Stuttering Strategies

Please click the links below to learn more about other speech and stuttering modification techniques:

• Light Articulatory Contact
  
• Easy Onset
• Pausing and Phrasing
• Easing Out

Want More Practice?

Visit Speech Therapy Talk Membership for additional resources and practice tips.

I have handouts for each strategy plus no print practice for no-prep therapy. Sometimes seeing is better than believing. Click here to explore the materials for in English and in Spanish.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for professional speech therapy.

References:

• https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/stuttering/