Lived experiences of children who stutter in their own voices

Introduction

Significant research has explored the lived experiences of adults who stutter, but less research exists regarding the lived experiences of children who stutter. The opinions and ideas of children who stutter may differ from those of adults, making it important for clinicians and researchers to obtain information directly from children who stutter. Asking children directly can lead to treatment outcomes and research questions that better align with the children's needs and values. Method: Interviews with 18 children who stutter (9 girls/9 boys) ages 8–17 were sourced from the Voices of Children Who Stutter database located at Talkbank.org. Interview questions asked the children about living with a stutter, participating in stuttering support organizations (SSOs), and their perspectives on treatment. Qualitative, phenomenological analysis was performed on their answers following standardized qualitative procedures. Results: Analysis of 910 total utterances yielded 7 themes and 9 subthemes. Themes indicated that the children: (a) had significant knowledge regarding their own stuttering, (b) had opinions regarding what constituted worthwhile treatment outcomes, (c) were clear about desirable clinician characteristics for working with kids who stutter, and (d) saw the benefits of being part of a community. Conclusions: Themes revealed that overall, children who stutter exhibit deep understanding regarding their experiences with stuttering, which clinicians can harness in person-centered goal setting. Additionally, the participants express the importance of participating in stuttering support organizations.