Pediatrician Referral Practices for Children Who Stutter

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Child Development

Background:

• Pediatricians are often the first point of contact for concerns about childhood stuttering.
• Increased evidence-based information on stuttering necessitates updated pediatrician practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pediatricians' accuracy in identifying potential stuttering in preschoolers.
• To evaluate pediatricians' referral likelihood for children exhibiting stuttering indicators.

Main Methods:

• National online survey of pediatricians using case vignettes.
• Vignettes manipulated stuttering presence and communication attitude.
• Data collected on pediatrician identification and referral practices.

Main Results:

• Pediatricians' identification and referral decisions were primarily influenced by observed stuttering behaviors and negative communication attitudes.
• Pediatrician gender, years in practice, and experience with stuttering did not significantly affect referral rates.

Conclusions:

• Pediatricians are less inclined to adopt a 'wait and see' approach for young children who stutter compared to previous practices.
• Parental reports of atypical behavior alone do not consistently lead to specialist referrals, unlike other childhood diagnoses.
• Future education should encourage pediatricians to consider factors beyond direct observation for stuttering referrals, such as parental concerns.