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Neuro Semantics

Neuro-semantics is an approach created in 1997 by Michael Hall and Bobby Bodenhamer that uses cognition to explain why people who stutter can speak fluently in some contexts but not others. It posits that developing a strong sense of self-worth through changing negative views of oneself can help gain control over disfluencies. The neuro-semantic approach uses seven matrices related to self, power, others, world, time, meaning, and purpose to develop fluency through shifting perceptual positions and changing learned patterns of thinking. While it has helped many who stutter, it lacks research on implementation and measuring outcomes.

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184 views

Neuro Semantics

Neuro-semantics is an approach created in 1997 by Michael Hall and Bobby Bodenhamer that uses cognition to explain why people who stutter can speak fluently in some contexts but not others. It posits that developing a strong sense of self-worth through changing negative views of oneself can help gain control over disfluencies. The neuro-semantic approach uses seven matrices related to self, power, others, world, time, meaning, and purpose to develop fluency through shifting perceptual positions and changing learned patterns of thinking. While it has helped many who stutter, it lacks research on implementation and measuring outcomes.

Uploaded by

AGW Vines
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Neuro-Semantics

“If you can speak fluently in one context, you


can learn to speak fluently in all contexts.”

University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

Bethany King Kelly Barden


[email protected] [email protected]
Presented on December 19, 2006
What is Neuro-Semantics?

• Neuro-semantics is a model that


describes how we make meaning through
classifying, associating, and evaluating
what we experience – the meanings we
make determine the actions we take
• Neuro-semantics was created in 1997 by
Michael Hall and Bobby Bodenhamer.
• Neuro-semantics is about pooling
together one’s cognitive resources to
realize his or her self-worth
• Neuro-semantics is a meta-discipline
approach, meaning it is about being
aware of your potentials
Overview
• Though Neuro-Semantics is not effective
for everyone who stutters, it has proven
to benefit many people who stutter

• The Neuro-Semantics approach is not a


“cure-all” for stuttering – those who are
successful must work hard to obtain
fluency
Principles of Neuro-Semantics

• Cognition explains why most people who


stutter can speak fluently in some
contexts but not in others
• Negative views toward one’s self
increase stuttering behaviors
• Once a strong sense of self-worth has
been developed, the person who stutters
gains control of his or her speech
• Gaining self-worth empowers the
individual to not care what others think of
them because of their disfluencies
How Neuro-Semantics relates to Disfluency

• For disfluency to be viewed in a negative way, it is


given unwanted labels such as: “bad, flawed, or
wrong”
• Negative views are learned in childhood and are
carried over into adulthood
• These negative views later determine our concept
of “self”
• These views develop into an external locus of
control, determining whether you have the power
or resources to control your speech
• Specific events and environments may trigger
disfluency because of associations made with
past negative encounters
The 7 Matrices of Neuro-Semantics for Fluency

Our sense of:


I. Self
II. Power/Resourcefulness, Self-Efficacy
III. Others’ relationships
IV. World
V. Time
VI. Meaning/Value
VII. Purpose/Intent
Learned Patterns and Frames of Mind
Bodenhamer, Bobby G. (2006). What We Believe About Blocking And Stuttering. Retrieved
December 11, 2006 from www.masteringstuttering.com.
Thinking about Thinking

• We continually think about what we are


thinking
• This is how we create self-images
• Negative and positive thoughts are
processed in the same way
• Thoughts override previous thoughts
(second thoughts change first thoughts)
Cognitive Treatment
“Perceptual Positions”
Borasky, M. (2005). New Hope for People Who Stutter. Retrieved December 11, 2006 from
http://www.contentmart.com/ContentMart/content.asp?LinkID=29528&CatID=327&content=1.

• First Position – seeing the world from


your own point of view; “How does this
conversation affect me?”
• Second Position – feeling empathy for
others and taking their perspective; think
about how they view how you are
communicating
• Third Position – dissociating yourself
from the entire conversation; being able
to appreciate both perspectives
“Perceptual Positions” (continued)

• Fourth Position – allows us to understand


all of the surrounding contexts (cultural,
linguistic, business, family, etc.) in our
world
• Fifth Position – highest level of
perspective; taking on a universal and
spiritual view point

• The ability for a person to freely move


from one position to another is key to
controlling stuttering.
Pros and Cons

Pros
• Helps the individual develop a positive self-image
• The individual gains control over his/her speech
by developing an internal locus of control
• Skills generalize to everyday life because Neuro-
semantics address life-changing behaviors and
thought processes

Cons
• Lacks research
• No guidelines on implementing this approach into
therapy
• No clear description of how change is measured
References

• Bodenhamer, Bobby G. (2006). What We Believe About


Blocking And Stuttering. Retrieved December 11, 2006 from
www.masteringstuttering.com.

• Bodenhamer, Bobby G. (2005). Mastering Blocking &


Stuttering with Neuro-Semantics. Retrieved December 11,
2006 from www.masteringstuttering.com.

• Borasky, M. (2005). New Hope for People Who Stutter.


Retrieved December 11, 2006 from
http://www.contentmart.com/ContentMart/content.asp?LinkI
D=29528&CatID=327&content=1.

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