[An integrated approach to the evaluation and treatment of the pre-school stutterer with speech and language...

This study aimed at the evaluation of the efficacy of a parent-centered intervention strategy, based on an integrated approach to the diagnosis and treatment of the pre-school stutterer. A number of psycho-linguistic, psycho-social, physiologic and fluency variables were measured before, during and after intervention. The therapy programme was individualized for and implemented with a mother and her four year old son. Results indicate a decrease in the mother's fluency-inhibiting interaction patterns, an improvement in her son's receptive and expressive language skills and an increase in speech fluency and naturalness. The extent to which this behaviour generalized to the extra-clinical situation is still undecided.