The relationship of theory to therapy in stuttering

When clinicians claim a disinterest in theory, they are really saying that they are not interested in theories other than their own or new findings not supporting it. The theories themselves are usually myths based on assumptions & speculation. Some theories for which this is a problem are: (1) the psychoanalytic theory, which contains many covert assumptions & has no support in empirical data, (2) the 'avoidance' hypothesis, which is based on faulty reasonings, & (3) the fear or 'conditioned negative emotion' hypothesis, which ignores the fact that most stutterers still stutter under positive emotional conditions. In many cases the relationship between theory & therapy is only semantic; despite the number of theories at large, the therapies used exhibit an unusual conformity. Until an adequate theory of stuttering, based on empirical data is formulated, therapy is best divorced from theory & based on empiricism & common sense. T. Lamb