In the context of treating stuttering, what is the typical focus of the FS approach?

The FS (Fluency Shaping) approach primarily focuses on increasing spontaneous fluency. This method emphasizes helping individuals with stuttering to experience a smoother speech flow in natural conversational contexts, rather than striving for absolute fluency or regarding speech as perfect. The goal is to facilitate a more fluent speech pattern in various speaking situations through techniques that can be integrated into everyday communication.

By prioritizing spontaneous fluency, the FS approach seeks to make fluent speech more habitual, enabling individuals to speak more fluidly without overthinking or reaching for specific techniques each time they communicate. This approach recognizes the importance of real-life practice and helps the individual feel more comfortable and natural in their speech, which can lead to a reduction in stuttering over time.

While emotional stability, total fluency, and specific speech techniques might be components considered during therapy, they are not the primary focus of the FS approach. Instead, the emphasis is on fostering an environment where fluent speech can occur more frequently and spontaneously, thus enhancing the individual’s overall communication effectiveness.