Parent verbal interactions and speech rate: a case study in stuttering

This single-case study of indirect stuttering treatment is intended to identify variables for further research. The study used post hoc analyses of changes in parent speech variables and changes in the child's stuttering. The analysis was conducted in two parts. Study I examined the relationships between the child's percent syllables stuttered and the parents' speech rates and percentages of nonaccepting statements, interruptions, questions, nonaccepting questions, and talk time. The only parent variable significantly correlated with the child's stuttering was the mother's speech rate. In Study II the child's percent syllables stuttered were subdivided into primary (effortless) and secondary (tense) stuttering. Each category was then correlated with the parent variables examined previously. Results suggested that the parent variables that were significantly related to the child's primary stuttering were not the same as those significantly related to her secondary stuttering. Specific parent variables are suggested for further study.