[Speech fluency disorders in childhood and adolescence]

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Pediatric audiology
• Clinical linguistics

Background:

• Persistent speech fluency disorders, including stuttering and cluttering, affect about 1% of children and adolescents.
• These disorders significantly impact social participation and quality of life.
• The German S3 guidelines offer evidence-based information on pathogenesis, diagnostics, and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the efficacy of various stuttering treatments.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of speech fluency disorders in children and adolescents.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of evidence-based treatments for stuttering.
• Analysis of treatment efficacy across different age groups.

Main Results:

• Lidcombe therapy demonstrates the best evidence for preschoolers.
• Speech restructuring methods (e.g., fluency shaping) have high-level evidence for adolescents and children aged 6-12.
• Indirect approaches show strong evidence; stuttering modification and combined approaches have weak evidence.
• Unspecified therapies, breathing regulation, and hypnosis lack supporting evidence.

Conclusions:

• Early treatment initiation is critical for managing speech fluency disorders.
• Evidence-based therapies like Lidcombe and fluency shaping should be prioritized.
• Ineffective and unsupported treatments should be avoided.