FOREWORD

Hello. I am the new Co-Editor in Chief of Seminars in Speech and Language. This is an exciting new enterprise for me. I am dedicated to having these adult-focus issues of Seminars affect as many relevant clinicians as possible. Therefore, I would like to hear from you. My e-mail address is [e-mail]. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas and your suggestions about how Seminars can be more responsive to your needs. (Yeah, your complaints too. I can handle that.)

This issue of Seminars is really the brainchild of Brian Scanlan at Thieme Medical Publishers. Early in our negotiations, he told me about a recent discussion he had heard on National Public Radio about the kinds of communication problems that were not “pathological” in the peculiar sense of what “pathology” means to this profession, but that might be overcome by the techniques and practices of skilled speech-language pathologists. Who did this work with people whose problems were not visible on our pathology-oriented radar screens? What kinds of problems did they work with? What was the value of the work? Was all of this worth talking about? Yes, Brian, indeed it is.

The current issue is the result of some explorations into the world of highly skilled practitioners (both speech-language pathologists and audiologists), most of whom are in private practice, where they work with individuals (among others) who have “subclinical” communication problems. Such disorders impede these persons' progress in the workplace or affect their social relationships. Interestingly, clinicians who work with them do so in the context of wellness, a somewhat foreign notion to many of us, whose patients live in the context of illness and aspire to a return to wellness. Nevertheless, these clinicians know much (and are willing to share it) pertinent to both contexts.

I have had incredible pleasure in working with this topic and these writers. There are many reasons for this. First, I have learned about a world of service that is far removed from the one in which my own skills are practiced. Second, I have learned how exciting it must be to work with adults whose problems appear to be significant, but relatively “in-the moment,” and who are ripe and motivated for change. Third, I have learned how willing these private practitioners are to share (quite explicitly) their techniques and experiences.

Lisa K. Breakey, an eminent private practitioner from California, has taken the lead as Guest Editor for this issue. She has recruited others of talent and expertise to assist her and has herself written an article on fear of public speaking and how to manage it. Lorna D. Sikorski, also a Californian and an expert on regional and foreign accents, has contributed two articles, one on each of those topics. Joseph C. Stempel, from the Blaine Block Institute in Ohio and a well-known expert in voice, has written an article on holistic approaches to voice care, which has implications for both normal and abnormal voices. Finally, audiologist Brian Taylor from Minnesota joins the ranks. He has contributed a timely article on the concept of social intelligence and its importance not only in clinical management of others but for the successful practice of clinical intervention in communication disorders.

Thank you all for your participation in this issue. I am pleased to be a part of it.