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SLP Provider Profile: John Pennino, CCC-SLP, Plymouth MA
John Pennino knows a good thing when he hears it.
That was his experience almost three years ago when Joe Stigora invited him to Philadelphia to take a look at a new device for stuttering called the SpeechEasy.
Pennino had moved to Massachusetts, from Minneapolis five years prior, to continue his 30+ years' practice as a Speech Language Pathologist. Prior to meeting with Joe Stigora and learning about SpeechEasy, Pennino primarily worked with the Fluency Master which, as he recalls, was less than satisfactory.
"The Fluency Master was not user friendly," recalls Pennino. "It's obtrusive, due to its size, and its only choice of one-size-fits-all." When he saw the SpeechEasy for the first time, he knew he was seeing and hearing something that would significantly impact the way people who stutter manage their fluency.
"I was astounded," recalls Pennino. "(Compared to the Fluency Master), I was quite pleasantly surprised at the size of the device and the effectiveness." Pennino says after his initial evaluation, he continued to investigate the fluency device even further. "A couple of weeks later a group of us went to Greenville, North Carolina (to Janus Development Group's headquarters, the makers of the SpeechEasy device). That's when I became amazingly impressed with the SpeechEasy system, and especially the incredible support that surrounds it."
Pennino recalls it was slow going in the beginning. Once he received training for how to fit the device, it was still a gradual process. "But that was good," says Pennino, "because it gave me time for a learning curve. About a year ago, we began to be inundated with referrals."
Pennino now does between 4 and 5 evaluations per week. He says his experience with the device has been, and continues to be, very positive. And, just like any realistic situation that requires ongoing treatment, sometimes there are hurdles.
"The benefits have been amazing. With my experience (of about 300 people), there have been a few issues, but usually it's with a school-age child. We will often make adjustments with the program, sometimes just adjusting the volume in the system itself. And it always works out fine."
"Another factor I think is so outstanding is the tremendous technical support you get from Janus. You call Janus or Baxter Fluency Group or whatever group you're involved in, and you get excellent technical support. You think you're in a major quandary and it's really something very simple that can be fixed on the spot."
Pennino also points out the fact that Janus' dedication to ongoing studies about how to continuously enhance the features of the device is key. "East Carolina University, where the device was invented, has an ongoing study, as well Dr. Molt's study at Auburn University ... The results (can be) dynamically helpful for us -- there is nothing static about this device."
Pennino says the biggest challenge isn't related to treatment or therapy, it's is finding the opportunity for reimbursements from third-party providers. But, he says, Janus' dedication to continued research and development on both the technology and in helping to secure coverage is exceptional.
"The challenge used to be having the device accepted by our colleagues. I think that has changed as of last year - I don't think most of our colleagues think we are peddling snake oil anymore." On that topic, Pennino says "we've come a long way. I think the word is out on SpeechEasy."
Pennino also points out that when using the device, it is import to stay vigilant on a day-to-day basis with therapy, and that having the Speecheasy helps make therapy even more effective. "It helps cuts through much (frustration) because of the fluency enhancing feedback - the patient doesn't have to be nearly as vigilant as people learning the regular methods," explains Pennino. "It helps (the patient) focus on techniques they've been trying to perfect all their life."
Pennino recalls a 24-year-old male who studied biomedical engineering at Boston University. After being fitted with a SpeechEasy device, he says his therapy became much more effortless.
"We all know that we are all much more concerned with what we have to say instead of how to say it," says Pennino. "However, when using the device it's important to refocus -- to remind yourself to listen to the signal coming through the device. If the individual is experiencing blocking, they have to focus on vowels. That's an on-the-spot adjustment that when they make it, they're right back into good fluency."
"We encourage most people when they first put their devices in to do a warm-up - especially if they have a volume control - like an 'ah - 1, ah-2, ah-3'. That helps them to tune into the signal coming into the device."
Pennino says using the stretching of the vowels helps blocking. "Usually the initial utterance can be the most challenging because you're starting from no preceding voice or sound. All the more reason to do a brief warm up."
"Sometimes we have people do a brief interjection of an 'ah' mid sentence, or right at the moment of feeling a little bit of tension. Dr. Kalinowsi, the inventor of the device, will often do that to this day if he's off the mark. He knows it won't be affective if he tries to force his way through things."
Pennino says these are not unique techniques to using SpeechEasy, but they work beautifully with the device.
"What's kind of interesting is what we are learning about the device -- some of these strategies we learned from other providers and from users of the device."
Pennino says SpeechEasy is his best recommendation for those who stutter.
"From what I can tell so far, this is the most viable option so far for us and our patients."
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