Perceptual assessment of normalcy of speech following stuttering therapy

Stuttering therapy procedures such as rhythmic or prolonged speech have been criticized because afterward the subject may speak fluently but also abnormally. Although assessments of the normalcy of speech behavior have been rare, some recent procedures have included perceptual assessments of certain dimensions of speech behavior. This study reports an evaluation procedure where listeners endeavored to distinguish between intermingled speech samples obtained from treated stutterers and a peer group of normally fluent speakers. Different groups of listeners were asked to judge the prosody, rate, fluency, and naturalness of posttreatment samples from a group of stutterers treated with a prolonged speech procedure, and a matched peer group of noramlly fluent speakers. No significant differences were found between the assessments of stutters and normally fluent speakers. However, when another group of listeners was asked to decide whether the speech samples were from treated stutters or normal speakers, the stutters received significantly fewer normal speaker judgements. Interrelationships between the judgment scales were evaluated along with a forced-choice procedure for assessing the normalcy of individual speech samples.     

Intensive stuttering modification therapy: a multidimensional assessment of treatment outcomes.

Nineteen adults who stutter participated in a 3-week intensive stuttering modification treatment program (the Successful Stuttering Management Program [SSMP]). A series of 14 fluency and affective-based measures were assessed before treatment, immediately after treatment, and 6 months after treatment. Measures included stuttering frequency; the Stuttering Severity Instrument for Children and Adults, Third Edition (SSI-3); a self-rating of stuttering severity; the Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory (PSI); the Locus of Control of Behavior Scale; the Beck Depression Inventory; the Multicomponent Anxiety Inventory IV (MCAI-IV); and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Statistically significant improvements were observed on 4 of the total 14 measures immediately following treatment and on 4 measures at 6 months posttreatment. Statistically significant improvements observed immediately posttreatment included scores on the SSI and the Struggle, Avoidance, and Expectancy subscales of the PSI. Sustained statistically significant improvements at 6 months posttreatment were observed only on client-reported perceptions of stuttering (the Avoidance and Expectancy subscales of the PSI) and 2 specific affective functioning measures (the Psychic and Somatic Anxiety subscales of the MCAI-IV). The SSMP generated some anxiolytic effects but was ineffective in producing durable reductions of core stuttering behaviors, such as stuttering frequency and severity. The discussion focuses on the strengths, weaknesses, and durability of the SSMP treatment approach.     

Cognitive conditioning therapy in the treatment of stuttering

A therapy is described in which clients vividly imagine the cognition that usually trigger their stuttering, and then contingently experience a painful shock. With the cessation of shock, alternate desirable cognitions are imagined that are designed to facilitate fluent speech. A case study illustrating the treatment is presented. Stuttering is compared with addictive behaviors such as smoking, and it is concluded that cognitive commonalities exist among seemingly disparate behaviors. The cognitive conditioning framework provides an integrative model that can be usefully applied in a variety of situations.     

Diagnostics and therapy of stuttering children

We demonstrate an overall concept for the early diagnosis and therapy of stuttering in early childhood. The idiographic view of childhood stuttering is detailed and a screening instrument presented to help decide between normal development of fluent speech and actual stuttering and hence whether referral is appropriate or not. The previously held dictum that the stuttering preschool child should be left alone is wrong - early diagnosis and intervention are important. The article shows that direct intervention of stuttering in preschool children is possible and does make sense. Because the prognosis for fluent speech diminishes rapidly from as early as age eight, the risk factors for chronic stuttering must be found and early therapy begun.     

Plan of therapy and rehabilitation in stuttering patients

The aim of the paper is to present the program of therapy and rehabilitation in stuttering patients based of the digital speech aid. The device has been applied to 130 patients aged 6-47 y.o. 85% of the patients had statistically significant instant improvement of speech fluency after application of digital speech aid. After completing diagnostic process, the patients were enrolled for the rehabilitation program which comprised of training with the use of speech aid, speech therapy, psychotherapy, audio-psycho-linguistic stimulation with the use of the Tomatis Method, physiotherapy, relaxation exercises, phoniatric rehabilitation and medical therapy. After 6 months of therapy and rehabilitation a statistically significant improvement of speech fluency was found in 124 patients, i.e. in 96%. The therapeutic programme based on the use of digital speech aid proves effective for majority of stuttering patients.     

An experimental increase in stuttering frequency

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate whether stuttering frequency could be increased from baseline by an experimental condition. Initially, 10 adult stutterers spoke spontaneously while alone. Next, they continued speaking, but with an adult, male conversationalist. Finally, the subjects again spoke while alone. Percent stuttering increased in the conversational situation compared with the baseline (alone) situation, and decreased in the final baseline (alone) situation compared with the conversational situation.