Issues in Assessment of Children Who Stutter: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists in the State of North Carolina

Abstract

Stuttering is a communication disorder that typically emerges before a child reaches school-age [1]. The incidence of this disabling disorder is generally accepted to be around 5% of the United States’ (U.S.) population [2]. Evidence also suggests the prevalence of stuttering decreases over time due to natural recovery [2]. The consequences of stuttering can be a debilitating influence on people who stutter (PWS). The negative influence of stuttering extends beyond the overt manifestations of stuttering such as sound and word repetitions, sound prolongations, and audible and inaudible postural fixations [2]. Specifically, the experience of stuttering also includes inconspicuous behaviors that are not observable to listeners. These include avoidances of sounds, words, Purpose: To survey school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the state of North Carolina (NC) to examine management practices primarily related to their work with children who stutter (CWS) and to identify factors that influence their assessment approaches.