Pub Date : 2025-09-16DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106161
Edna J. Carlo , Bárbara M. Pratts-Pérez , Kenneth O. St. Louis
Purpose
This study examines the attitudes towards stuttering of 18 Hispanic students from the University of Puerto Rico, before and after their master’s speech-language pathology (SLP) training, using the Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes–Stuttering (POSHA–S).
Methods
Two cohorts of students completed the Spanish version of the POSHA–S during initial graduate orientation and post-graduation interviews.
Results
Statistically significant changes were observed in attitudes, with an overall improvement in the Overall Stuttering Score (OSS), Beliefs, and Self Reactions. Fifteen of 62 comparisons
(24 %) were significant, with an average change of 1.6 standard deviations, indicating a “very large” effect size. Pre-training student attitudes were similar to those of the Puerto Rican public but worse than those of Puerto Rican teachers. Compared to > 200 samples in the international POSHA–S database, students’ mean rank increased from pre- to post-training from the 58th percentile to the 79th percentile, reflecting more positive attitudes compared to global data.
Conclusions
The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of graduate training in improving SLP students' attitudes towards stuttering, highlighting a significant positive shift from initial attitudes similar to the public to a more informed perspective post-education. This suggests that SLP training can effectively influence perceptions and beliefs about stuttering.
{"title":"Attitudes toward stuttering of speech-language pathology students from Puerto Rico before and after completing the degree","authors":"Edna J. Carlo , Bárbara M. Pratts-Pérez , Kenneth O. St. Louis","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study examines the attitudes towards stuttering of 18 Hispanic students from the University of Puerto Rico, before and after their master’s speech-language pathology (SLP) training, using the <em>Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes–Stuttering</em> (<em>POSHA–S</em>).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two cohorts of students completed the Spanish version of the <em>POSHA–S</em> during initial graduate orientation and post-graduation interviews.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistically significant changes were observed in attitudes, with an overall improvement in the Overall Stuttering Score (OSS), Beliefs, and Self Reactions. Fifteen of 62 comparisons</div><div>(24 %) were significant, with an average change of 1.6 standard deviations, indicating a “very large” effect size. Pre-training student attitudes were similar to those of the Puerto Rican public but worse than those of Puerto Rican teachers. Compared to > 200 samples in the international <em>POSHA–S</em> database, students’ mean rank increased from pre- to post-training from the 58th percentile to the 79th percentile, reflecting more positive attitudes compared to global data.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of graduate training in improving SLP students' attitudes towards stuttering, highlighting a significant positive shift from initial attitudes similar to the public to a more informed perspective post-education. This suggests that SLP training can effectively influence perceptions and beliefs about stuttering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145118953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106160
Annelien Dorme , Yana Criel , Kurt Eggers , Evy Woumans , Arnaud Szmalec , Miet De Letter
Purpose
Several studies show that adults who stutter have deficient auditory perception and attentional control. Moreover, these studies tend to focus on monolinguals, whereas both stuttering and bilingualism seem to have implications for these processes. This study aimed (1) to compare sublexical speech perception and nonlinguistic, nonauditory attention networks between bilingual adults who stutter (BAWS) and who do not stutter (BANS) and (2) to explore to which extent second language (L2) proficiency influences these processes.
Method
Thirteen BAWS and thirteen BANS were enrolled in an electrophysiological protocol using an inattentive (MMN) and an attentive auditory oddball paradigm (P300) containing a phonemic contrast (place of articulation). The Attention Network Test (ANT) was administered as a behavioral measure of attentional control.
Results
(1) The amplitude and onset latency of the MMN and P300 effect did not differ between BAWS and BANS, but BAWS did not show a typical differentiation between standard and deviant syllables as measured by the P2. Behaviorally, BAWS displayed a less efficient alerting network and executive attention network. (2) L2 proficiency had no significant effect on sublexical speech perception, but was negatively associated with executive attention in BAWS.
Conclusions
These results suggest that BAWS display difficulties in maintaining an alert state and inhibiting irrelevant and selecting relevant information, rather than selecting information from sensory input. In sensory processing, BAWS showed an atypical pattern compared to BANS, but no disparities in phoneme discrimination or categorization, regardless of an inattentive or attentive listening mode. Lastly, L2 proficiency influenced nonlinguistic, nonauditory attention in BAWS, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive research on bilingual profiles in people who stutter.
{"title":"Sublexical speech perception and attention networks in bilingual adults who stutter: A behavioral and electrophysiological study","authors":"Annelien Dorme , Yana Criel , Kurt Eggers , Evy Woumans , Arnaud Szmalec , Miet De Letter","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Several studies show that adults who stutter have deficient auditory perception and attentional control. Moreover, these studies tend to focus on monolinguals, whereas both stuttering and bilingualism seem to have implications for these processes. This study aimed (1) to compare sublexical speech perception and nonlinguistic, nonauditory attention networks between bilingual adults who stutter (BAWS) and who do not stutter (BANS) and (2) to explore to which extent second language (L2) proficiency influences these processes.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Thirteen BAWS and thirteen BANS were enrolled in an electrophysiological protocol using an inattentive (MMN) and an attentive auditory oddball paradigm (P300) containing a phonemic contrast (place of articulation). The Attention Network Test (ANT) was administered as a behavioral measure of attentional control.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>(1) The amplitude and onset latency of the MMN and P300 effect did not differ between BAWS and BANS, but BAWS did not show a typical differentiation between standard and deviant syllables as measured by the P2. Behaviorally, BAWS displayed a less efficient alerting network and executive attention network. (2) L2 proficiency had no significant effect on sublexical speech perception, but was negatively associated with executive attention in BAWS.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These results suggest that BAWS display difficulties in maintaining an alert state and inhibiting irrelevant and selecting relevant information, rather than selecting information from sensory input. In sensory processing, BAWS showed an atypical pattern compared to BANS, but no disparities in phoneme discrimination or categorization, regardless of an inattentive or attentive listening mode. Lastly, L2 proficiency influenced nonlinguistic, nonauditory attention in BAWS, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive research on bilingual profiles in people who stutter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106160"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106146
Cody W Dew, Rodney M Gabel
Purpose: Previous research has identified vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. There continues to be a need to understand factors that might influence vocational stereotyping. This study aimed to understand if having a relationship with a person who stutters influences vocational stereotyping.
Method: Using an online survey, participants identified if they know a person who stutters as well as the type and closeness of that relationship. Then, participants completed the Vocational Advice Scale (VAS). Relationships between familiarity with a person who stutters and VAS scale ratings were investigated using multiple statistical analyses.
Results: Results indicate that knowing a person who stutters has no significant effect on VAS scores for any career, including high-communication careers that are typically less advised for a person who stutters. Results also indicate that the closeness or type of relationship with a person who stutters has no significant impact on scores.
Conclusion: Individuals who have a relationship with a person who stutters appear to demonstrate vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. In other words, even those closest to people who stutter view careers requiring high communication demands as less appropriate for them. How these results contribute to understanding vocational stereotypes and role entrapment are discussed.
{"title":"Relationship between familiarity with a person who stutters and vocational stereotyping.","authors":"Cody W Dew, Rodney M Gabel","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Previous research has identified vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. There continues to be a need to understand factors that might influence vocational stereotyping. This study aimed to understand if having a relationship with a person who stutters influences vocational stereotyping.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Using an online survey, participants identified if they know a person who stutters as well as the type and closeness of that relationship. Then, participants completed the Vocational Advice Scale (VAS). Relationships between familiarity with a person who stutters and VAS scale ratings were investigated using multiple statistical analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicate that knowing a person who stutters has no significant effect on VAS scores for any career, including high-communication careers that are typically less advised for a person who stutters. Results also indicate that the closeness or type of relationship with a person who stutters has no significant impact on scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Individuals who have a relationship with a person who stutters appear to demonstrate vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. In other words, even those closest to people who stutter view careers requiring high communication demands as less appropriate for them. How these results contribute to understanding vocational stereotypes and role entrapment are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"106146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106150
Audrey J. Dsouza, Santosh Maruthy
Purpose
Accurate diagnosis of stuttering requires careful observation by trained professionals. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) typically identify stuttering using a perceptual judgement. However, it is unclear if this perception is based on the amount or the type of dysfluencies. Hence, the study aimed to determine the frequency of syllable/part-word repetitions judged as stuttered and to determine if the listener's language influences their judgement of fluency.
Method
Narrative samples of a Kannada-speaking child who stutters containing 1 %, 3 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % of syllable or part-word repetitions were judged by 27 Kannada and Malayalam-speaking SLPs each as fluent, disfluent, or stuttered. Further, an opinion about recommending the child for speech therapy was taken. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were performed to compare the difference between the two groups.
Results
Comparison between the five frequencies of dysfluencies and the judgement of speech revealed a significant difference for Kannada and Malayalam language groups. The non-native SLPs required more dysfluencies to judge speech as stuttered compared to the native SLPs. Both groups of SLPs recommended speech therapy for samples above 5 % dysfluencies.
Conclusions
Familiarity of Malayalam-speaking SLPs with the Kannada language and the experience of the participants in the assessment of stuttering could have influenced the differences obtained in this study. However, current results indicate a differential threshold for the perception of dysfluencies (syllable and part-word repetitions) and the influence of the listener's language familiarity. Hence, language familiarity may be a factor in the judgement of dysfluencies as fluent, disfluent, and stuttered speech.
{"title":"Differential tolerance for the judgement of dysfluencies as stuttered speech in native and non-native speech-language pathologists","authors":"Audrey J. Dsouza, Santosh Maruthy","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Accurate diagnosis of stuttering requires careful observation by trained professionals. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) typically identify stuttering using a perceptual judgement. However, it is unclear if this perception is based on the amount or the type of dysfluencies. Hence, the study aimed to determine the frequency of syllable/part-word repetitions judged as stuttered and to determine if the listener's language influences their judgement of fluency.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Narrative samples of a Kannada-speaking child who stutters containing 1 %, 3 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % of syllable or part-word repetitions were judged by 27 Kannada and Malayalam-speaking SLPs each as fluent, disfluent, or stuttered. Further, an opinion about recommending the child for speech therapy was taken. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were performed to compare the difference between the two groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Comparison between the five frequencies of dysfluencies and the judgement of speech revealed a significant difference for Kannada and Malayalam language groups. The non-native SLPs required more dysfluencies to judge speech as stuttered compared to the native SLPs. Both groups of SLPs recommended speech therapy for samples above 5 % dysfluencies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Familiarity of Malayalam-speaking SLPs with the Kannada language and the experience of the participants in the assessment of stuttering could have influenced the differences obtained in this study. However, current results indicate a differential threshold for the perception of dysfluencies (syllable and part-word repetitions) and the influence of the listener's language familiarity. Hence, language familiarity may be a factor in the judgement of dysfluencies as fluent, disfluent, and stuttered speech.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106150"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106149
Saeed Saeedi , Mehdi Bakhtiar
Objective
This study aimed to examine how frequently asked questions regarding stuttering were comprehended and answered by ChatGPT.
Methods
In this exploratory study, eleven common questions about stuttering were asked in a single conversation with the GPT-4o mini. While being blind relative to the source of the answers (whether by AI or SLPs), a panel of five certified speech and language pathologists (SLPs) was requested to differentiate if responses were produced by the ChatGPT chatbot or provided by SLPs. Additionally, they were instructed to evaluate the responses based on several criteria, including the presence of inaccuracies, the potential for causing harm and the degree of harm that could result, and alignment with the prevailing consensus within the SLP community. All ChatGPT responses were also evaluated utilizing various readability features, including the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Gunning Fog Scale Level (GFSL), and Dale-Chall Score (D-CS), the number of words, number of sentences, words per sentence (WPS), characters per word (CPW), and the percentage of difficult words. Furthermore, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was employed to examine relationship between the evaluations conducted by the panel of certified SLPs and readability features.
Results
A substantial proportion of the AI-generated responses (45.50 %) were incorrectly identified by SLP panel as being written by other SLPs, indicating high perceived human-likeness (origin). Regarding content quality, 83.60 % of the responses were found to be accurate (incorrectness), 63.60 % were rated as harmless (harm), and 38.20 % were considered to cause only minor to moderate impact (extent of harm). In terms of professional alignment, 62 % of the responses reflected the prevailing views within the SLP community (consensus). The means ± standard deviation of FRES, GFSL, and D-CS were 26.52 ± 13.94 (readable for college graduates), 18.17 ± 3.39 (readable for graduate students), and 9.90 ± 1.08 (readable for 13th to 15th grade [college]), respectively. Furthermore, each response contained an average of 99.73 words, 6.80 sentences, 17.44 WPS, 5.79 CPW, and 27.96 % difficult words. The correlation coefficients ranged between significantly large negative value (r = -0.909, p < 0.05) to very large positive value (r = 0.918, p < 0.05).
Conclusion
The results revealed that the emerging ChatGPT possesses a promising capability to provide appropriate responses to frequently asked questions in the field of stuttering, which is attested by the fact that panel of certified SLPs perceived about 45 % of them to be generated by SLPs. However, given the increasing accessibility of AI tools, particularly among individuals with limited access to professional services, it is crucial to emphasize that such tools are intended solely for educati
{"title":"Assessing the response quality and readability of ChatGPT in stuttering","authors":"Saeed Saeedi , Mehdi Bakhtiar","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to examine how frequently asked questions regarding stuttering were comprehended and answered by ChatGPT.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this exploratory study, eleven common questions about stuttering were asked in a single conversation with the GPT-4o mini. While being blind relative to the source of the answers (whether by AI or SLPs), a panel of five certified speech and language pathologists (SLPs) was requested to differentiate if responses were produced by the ChatGPT chatbot or provided by SLPs. Additionally, they were instructed to evaluate the responses based on several criteria, including the presence of inaccuracies, the potential for causing harm and the degree of harm that could result, and alignment with the prevailing consensus within the SLP community. All ChatGPT responses were also evaluated utilizing various readability features, including the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Gunning Fog Scale Level (GFSL), and Dale-Chall Score (D-CS), the number of words, number of sentences, words per sentence (WPS), characters per word (CPW), and the percentage of difficult words. Furthermore, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was employed to examine relationship between the evaluations conducted by the panel of certified SLPs and readability features.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A substantial proportion of the AI-generated responses (45.50 %) were incorrectly identified by SLP panel as being written by other SLPs, indicating high perceived human-likeness (origin). Regarding content quality, 83.60 % of the responses were found to be accurate (incorrectness), 63.60 % were rated as harmless (harm), and 38.20 % were considered to cause only minor to moderate impact (extent of harm). In terms of professional alignment, 62 % of the responses reflected the prevailing views within the SLP community (consensus). The means ± standard deviation of FRES, GFSL, and D-CS were 26.52 ± 13.94 (readable for college graduates), 18.17 ± 3.39 (readable for graduate students), and 9.90 ± 1.08 (readable for 13th to 15th grade [college]), respectively. Furthermore, each response contained an average of 99.73 words, 6.80 sentences, 17.44 WPS, 5.79 CPW, and 27.96 % difficult words. The correlation coefficients ranged between significantly large negative value (<em>r</em> = -0.909, <em>p</em> < 0.05) to very large positive value (<em>r</em> = 0.918, <em>p</em> < 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results revealed that the emerging ChatGPT possesses a promising capability to provide appropriate responses to frequently asked questions in the field of stuttering, which is attested by the fact that panel of certified SLPs perceived about 45 % of them to be generated by SLPs. However, given the increasing accessibility of AI tools, particularly among individuals with limited access to professional services, it is crucial to emphasize that such tools are intended solely for educati","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106149"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144885840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106148
Jessica Smith , Charlotte King , Nathan D. Maxfield
Purpose
From 1981–1999, Pat Richard Sacco directed a residential, highly intensive, group, hybrid speech-focused treatment program for stuttering, five weeks in duration, which yielded significant reductions in stuttering and improved communication attitude. However, this model is costly, which may be a barrier to treatment. The aim of this study was to document preliminary outcomes of a three-week, non-residential, semi-intensive version of the program.
Method
Using a single subject, multiple-baseline, stacked AB design featuring three participants who stutter (two adults, one adolescent), baseline speech (monologue, read-aloud) was compared with speech following three treatment phases (stuttering exposure, stuttering modification, speech stabilization) for frequency of primary and secondary stuttering behaviors and speech rate. Ratings of speech naturalness were collected from listeners with no training in speech-language pathology. Finally, participant impressions of the treatment program and treatment impacts were gathered from graduation speeches.
Results
Relative to baseline speech, by the end of treatment: a) frequency of primary and secondary stuttering behaviors decreased to zero or near-zero for all participants, b) speech rate increased for one participant and decreased in one or both speaking tasks for two participants, and c) speech was produced with near-typical naturalness. Participants endorsed increased knowledge and confidence, sense of community, and speech-related behavioral changes.
Conclusions
The treatment reduced stuttering and changed speech rate, improved speech naturalness, and drove other acute perceived benefits in all participants. Additional research is warranted to document outcomes more comprehensively, on a larger scale, over the longer term, possibly with refinements for improving outcomes.
目的：从1981年到1999年，帕特·理查德·萨科（Pat Richard Sacco）指导了一个以住校、高强度、小组、混合语言为重点的口吃治疗项目，持续了五周，显著减少了口吃，改善了沟通态度。然而，这种模式是昂贵的，这可能是治疗的障碍。这项研究的目的是记录为期三周，非住宿，半密集版本的程序的初步结果。方法采用单受试者、多基线、堆叠AB设计，对3名口吃患者（2名成人、1名青少年）进行基线言语（独白、朗读）与经过3个治疗阶段（口吃暴露、口吃矫正、言语稳定）的言语进行主次口吃行为频率和言语率的比较。从没有接受过语言病理学培训的听者那里收集语音自然度评分。最后，从毕业演讲中收集参与者对治疗方案和治疗效果的印象。结果：相对于基线言语，到治疗结束时：a)所有参与者的原发性和继发性口吃行为频率降至零或接近零；b)一名参与者的言语率增加，两名参与者的一个或两个言语任务的言语率下降；c)言语产生接近典型的自然程度。参与者赞成增加知识和信心，社区意识和与语言相关的行为改变。结论：治疗减少了口吃和言语率的改变，提高了语言的自然度，并在所有参与者中带来了其他急性获益。有必要进行更多的研究，以更全面、更大规模、更长期地记录结果，并可能对结果进行改进。
{"title":"A Stage-1 trial of a hybrid speech-focused treatment for stuttering delivered in a non-residential semi-intensive format","authors":"Jessica Smith , Charlotte King , Nathan D. Maxfield","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>From 1981–1999, Pat Richard Sacco directed a residential, highly intensive, group, hybrid speech-focused treatment program for stuttering, five weeks in duration, which yielded significant reductions in stuttering and improved communication attitude. However, this model is costly, which may be a barrier to treatment. The aim of this study was to document preliminary outcomes of a three-week, non-residential, semi-intensive version of the program.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Using a single subject, multiple-baseline, stacked AB design featuring three participants who stutter (two adults, one adolescent), baseline speech (monologue, read-aloud) was compared with speech following three treatment phases (stuttering exposure, stuttering modification, speech stabilization) for frequency of primary and secondary stuttering behaviors and speech rate. Ratings of speech naturalness were collected from listeners with no training in speech-language pathology. Finally, participant impressions of the treatment program and treatment impacts were gathered from graduation speeches.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Relative to baseline speech, by the end of treatment: a) frequency of primary and secondary stuttering behaviors decreased to zero or near-zero for all participants, b) speech rate increased for one participant and decreased in one or both speaking tasks for two participants, and c) speech was produced with near-typical naturalness. Participants endorsed increased knowledge and confidence, sense of community, and speech-related behavioral changes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The treatment reduced stuttering and changed speech rate, improved speech naturalness, and drove other acute perceived benefits in all participants. Additional research is warranted to document outcomes more comprehensively, on a larger scale, over the longer term, possibly with refinements for improving outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144865269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106147
Christian A. Kell , Nils Warneke , Verena Zentsch , Johannes Kasper , Melanie Vauth-Weidig , Tobias Warnecke , Katrin Neumann
Background and purpose
Persistent developmental stuttering is a frequent speech fluency disorder that can considerably reduce quality of life. Because available therapies do not always provide satisfying results, new therapeutic approaches are needed. The anomalous cerebral speech network in persons who stutter provides substrate for neuromodulation. We report here the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) used for the first time to treat stuttering.
Methods
A 24-year-old male who stuttered severely since childhood received chronic left ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus electrical stimulation following a patient- and examiners-blinded two-year stimulation protocol. Stuttering frequency was determined as percent stuttered syllables and stuttering severity using the Stuttering Severity Instrument – 4th edition (SSI-4). The Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering – Adults (OASES-A) questionnaire quantified the patient’s self-evaluated experience of stuttering and quality of life.
Results
The average stuttering frequency decreased by 46 % postoperatively and the stuttering severity by 29 %. The maximal achieved reduction of stuttering frequency was 62 % and of stuttering severity 39 %; self-assessment of stuttering improved by 38 %. Stuttering frequency was negatively associated with DBS stimulation frequency, demonstrating a biological stimulation effect beyond any potential placebo effects. Stuttering responded to stimulation parameter changes with a lag of several weeks, pointing to a rather slow modulatory than direct suppressive effect of deep brain stimulation on stuttering.
Conclusion
These results suggest deep brain stimulation as a new treatment option for severe stuttering and warrant further systematic exploration in a series of people who stutter.
{"title":"Left thalamic deep brain stimulation for persistent developmental stuttering","authors":"Christian A. Kell , Nils Warneke , Verena Zentsch , Johannes Kasper , Melanie Vauth-Weidig , Tobias Warnecke , Katrin Neumann","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Persistent developmental stuttering is a frequent speech fluency disorder that can considerably reduce quality of life. Because available therapies do not always provide satisfying results, new therapeutic approaches are needed. The anomalous cerebral speech network in persons who stutter provides substrate for neuromodulation. We report here the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) used for the first time to treat stuttering.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A 24-year-old male who stuttered severely since childhood received chronic left ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus electrical stimulation following a patient- and examiners-blinded two-year stimulation protocol. Stuttering frequency was determined as percent stuttered syllables and stuttering severity using the Stuttering Severity Instrument – 4th edition (SSI-4). The Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering – Adults (OASES-A) questionnaire quantified the patient’s self-evaluated experience of stuttering and quality of life.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The average stuttering frequency decreased by 46 % postoperatively and the stuttering severity by 29 %. The maximal achieved reduction of stuttering frequency was 62 % and of stuttering severity 39 %; self-assessment of stuttering improved by 38 %. Stuttering frequency was negatively associated with DBS stimulation frequency, demonstrating a biological stimulation effect beyond any potential placebo effects. Stuttering responded to stimulation parameter changes with a lag of several weeks, pointing to a rather slow modulatory than direct suppressive effect of deep brain stimulation on stuttering.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These results suggest deep brain stimulation as a new treatment option for severe stuttering and warrant further systematic exploration in a series of people who stutter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106147"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106141
Ayhan Çağlayan , Eren Balo , İlknur Maviş
Objective
This study aims to investigate if preschool children’s communication attitudes and speech behaviors, and their parents’ feelings and attitudes towards stuttering, overall parenting attitudes, and anxiety levels differ after desensitizing the parents to stuttering.
Material and Methods
20 preschool children who stutter (CWS) and their parents participated in the study. Employing one-group pre-test–post-test experimental design, the research data were collected before the therapy, immediately after the therapy, and three months post-therapy for follow-up. The mothers and fathers completed the Turkish version of ‘‘Stuttering-Parental Diagnostic Questionnaire”, “Parental Attitude Scale”, and “The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory”, while the children were administered “Turkish Communication Attitude Test for Preschool and Kindergarten Children Who Stutter”. The therapy was carried out across 8 weeks and 10 sessions in total only with the parents. For statistical analysis, independent t-test was used for the difference between two independent groups, and repeated measures analysis of variance was utilized to compare pre, post and follow-up data.
Results
Following the desensitization therapy applied to the parents, statistically significant positive improvements were observed in children’s communication attitudes and speech behaviors and in parents’ feelings and attitudes towards stuttering. Based on the 4 types of parenting styles (Karabulut Demir & Şendil, 2008), the parents exhibited significantly more democratic and less authoritarian, less overprotective, and less permissive attitudes. The decrease in the overall anxiety levels of the parents was also statistically significant.
Conclusions
Desensitizing parents to stuttering was effective for the management of stuttering during preschool years for both parties— the parents and their children
目的探讨父母对结巴脱敏后学龄前儿童的沟通态度和言语行为、父母对结巴的感受和态度、整体育儿态度和焦虑水平是否存在差异。材料与方法20例学龄前口吃儿童及其家长参与了本研究。采用一组前测后测实验设计，研究数据分别于治疗前、治疗后、治疗后3个月进行随访。父母分别填写土耳其语版“口吃-父母诊断问卷”、“父母态度量表”和“状态-特质焦虑量表”，对儿童进行“学龄前和幼儿园口吃儿童土耳其语沟通态度测试”。这项治疗持续了8周，总共10次，只有父母参与。统计分析两独立组间差异采用独立t检验，前后及随访资料比较采用重复测量方差分析。结果对父母进行脱敏治疗后，儿童的沟通态度和言语行为以及父母对口吃的感受和态度均有统计学意义的积极改善。基于四种类型的养育方式(Karabulut Demir &；Şendil, 2008)，父母表现出更民主，更少专制，更少过度保护和更少宽容的态度。父母总体焦虑水平的下降也具有统计学意义。结论家长对结巴的脱敏对家长和孩子双方的学龄前结巴管理都是有效的
{"title":"Desensitizing parents of preschool children who stutter: The effect on attitudes and anxiety of both children and parents","authors":"Ayhan Çağlayan , Eren Balo , İlknur Maviş","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to investigate if preschool children’s communication attitudes and speech behaviors, and their parents’ feelings and attitudes towards stuttering, overall parenting attitudes, and anxiety levels differ after desensitizing the parents to stuttering.</div></div><div><h3>Material and Methods</h3><div>20 preschool children who stutter (CWS) and their parents participated in the study. Employing one-group pre-test–post-test experimental design, the research data were collected before the therapy, immediately after the therapy, and three months post-therapy for follow-up. The mothers and fathers completed the Turkish version of ‘‘Stuttering-Parental Diagnostic Questionnaire”, “Parental Attitude Scale”, and “The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory”, while the children were administered “Turkish Communication Attitude Test for Preschool and Kindergarten Children Who Stutter”. The therapy was carried out across 8 weeks and 10 sessions in total only with the parents. For statistical analysis, independent <em>t</em>-test was used for the difference between two independent groups, and repeated measures analysis of variance was utilized to compare pre, post and follow-up data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Following the desensitization therapy applied to the parents, statistically significant positive improvements were observed in children’s communication attitudes and speech behaviors and in parents’ feelings and attitudes towards stuttering. Based on the 4 types of parenting styles (Karabulut Demir & Şendil, 2008), the parents exhibited significantly more democratic and less authoritarian, less overprotective, and less permissive attitudes. The decrease in the overall anxiety levels of the parents was also statistically significant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Desensitizing parents to stuttering was effective for the management of stuttering during preschool years for both parties— the parents and their children</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106141"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106143
Michael Azios , Farzan Irani , Teyara Watson-Love , Anne Williams
Purpose
The aim of this exploratory study was to determine whether a school-based bibliotherapy intervention will change the attitudes of school-aged children who do not stutter toward children who stutter (CWS). A secondary purpose was to determine the ease of implementation in a school.
Method
Twenty-six fourth-grade children who do not stutter participated in an intervention consisting of graduate student clinicians using a bibliotherapy framework and guided discussions over the course of four weeks to educate and shift their attitudes about stuttering and peers who stutter. All participants completed the Peer Attitudes Toward Children who Stutter (PATCS) scale pre- and post-intervention to determine if there was a change in attitudes toward CWS. The graduate student clinicians completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) at the end of the intervention to rate the ease of implementing the novel bibliotherapy intervention.
Results
There was a significant, positive effect of bibliotherapy intervention on the attitudes of fourth-grade children towards CWS as measured by the PATCS. Graduate student clinicians who administered the intervention in the school rated it as “good” to “excellent” in terms of ease of implementation on the SUS.
Conclusions
The bibliotherapy-based classroom intervention was effective at modifying peer attitudes toward stuttering in just four weeks and was easy to implement, making it a feasible approach for clinicians who desire to transition to a social model of intervention that targets the environment.
{"title":"Let’s read: Building allies through a bibliotherapy stuttering intervention","authors":"Michael Azios , Farzan Irani , Teyara Watson-Love , Anne Williams","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The aim of this exploratory study was to determine whether a school-based bibliotherapy intervention will change the attitudes of school-aged children who do not stutter toward children who stutter (CWS). A secondary purpose was to determine the ease of implementation in a school.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Twenty-six fourth-grade children who do not stutter participated in an intervention consisting of graduate student clinicians using a bibliotherapy framework and guided discussions over the course of four weeks to educate and shift their attitudes about stuttering and peers who stutter. All participants completed the Peer Attitudes Toward Children who Stutter (PATCS) scale pre- and post-intervention to determine if there was a change in attitudes toward CWS. The graduate student clinicians completed the System Usability Scale (SUS) at the end of the intervention to rate the ease of implementing the novel bibliotherapy intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There was a significant, positive effect of bibliotherapy intervention on the attitudes of fourth-grade children towards CWS as measured by the PATCS. Graduate student clinicians who administered the intervention in the school rated it as “good” to “excellent” in terms of ease of implementation on the SUS.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The bibliotherapy-based classroom intervention was effective at modifying peer attitudes toward stuttering in just four weeks and was easy to implement, making it a feasible approach for clinicians who desire to transition to a social model of intervention that targets the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106143"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106145
S.P.C. Koenraads , P.W. Jansen , J.E. Labuschagne , M.P. van der Schroeff , M.C. Franken
Background
Although linguistic factors are considered relevant to stuttering onset and its developmental course, the exact relationship between language and childhood stuttering remains unclear. Low, average and above-average expressive and receptive language skills have been associated with childhood stuttering. This study aimed to evaluate whether early language skills in children are associated with the risk of stuttering onset and persistence, using population-level data.
Methods
In a prospective, population-based cohort, we analyzed early-childhood language data from 123 nine-year-old with a history of stuttering (22 persistent, 101 recovered) and 2819 children without such a history. Expressive and receptive language skills were assessed at five time points using parental-reported questionnaires between 18 and 48 months of age. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results
Higher expressive and receptive language skills at 24 months were significantly associated with a decreased risk of stuttering (Odds Ratio (OR), 0.78, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) [0.65, 0.93], p-value < 0.01). Language assessments at 18, 30, 36 and 48 months showed no evidence of any association with stuttering (persistence).
Conclusion
These findings support previous studies indicating that lower language skills in early childhood add to the risk of stuttering onset, but not with the persistence of stuttering. This association does not imply causality, it only demonstrates the association. Therefore, clinicians are advised to screen language skills in pre-school children referred shortly after stuttering onset. Early language assessment may also reveal concomitant, clinically relevant language disorders, which are more prevalent in children already identified with one developmental concern.
{"title":"Risk of stuttering onset and persistence linked to early language skills: Results from the Generation R Study","authors":"S.P.C. Koenraads , P.W. Jansen , J.E. Labuschagne , M.P. van der Schroeff , M.C. Franken","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although linguistic factors are considered relevant to stuttering onset and its developmental course, the exact relationship between language and childhood stuttering remains unclear. Low, average and above-average expressive and receptive language skills have been associated with childhood stuttering. This study aimed to evaluate whether early language skills in children are associated with the risk of stuttering onset and persistence, using population-level data.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In a prospective, population-based cohort, we analyzed early-childhood language data from 123 nine-year-old with a history of stuttering (22 persistent, 101 recovered) and 2819 children without such a history. Expressive and receptive language skills were assessed at five time points using parental-reported questionnaires between 18 and 48 months of age. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Higher expressive and receptive language skills at 24 months were significantly associated with a decreased risk of stuttering (Odds Ratio (OR), 0.78, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) [0.65, 0.93], p-value < 0.01). Language assessments at 18, 30, 36 and 48 months showed no evidence of any association with stuttering (persistence).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings support previous studies indicating that lower language skills in early childhood add to the risk of stuttering onset, but not with the persistence of stuttering. This association does not imply causality, it only demonstrates the association. Therefore, clinicians are advised to screen language skills in pre-school children referred shortly after stuttering onset. Early language assessment may also reveal concomitant, clinically relevant language disorders, which are more prevalent in children already identified with one developmental concern.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106145"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144655741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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