Effects of Nanta Activities on the Adults Who Stutter with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Adults who stutter (AWS) may have difficulty in coordination of speech-related muscles movement. Therefore enhancement of coordiantion of speech-related muscles may result in a decrease in disfluency. The current study is a case report of two AWS with intellectual disabilities who received Nanta treatment, non-verbal music therapy technique focusing on coordination of muscles. Two AWS with intellectual disabilities received Nanta treatment for 15 sessions. The Nanta treatment is made up of two goals; body movement to rhythm and speech-related movement to rhythm. Disfluency frequencies for conversation samples were measured pre-treatment, every second treatment, and post-treatment. In addition, a communication test was conducted pre- and post-treatment. Both participants showed a decrease in disfluency frequencies. Moreover there were individualized differences in the changing pattern. However, the participants did not show a positive change in communication attitude. The Nanta treatment may have been effective in reducing disfluency frequencies for the participants of the current study, especially because the treatment was based on non-verbal techniques. These results emphasize that stuttering treatment should be individualized according to the client's characteristics.