Stuttering and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Assessment and Treatment

Dual diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and stuttering have been reported in the literature, but little is known about how often they co-occur, the best practices for assessment, and even less about intervention. In this article, we gathered the data available on these issues and compiled and analyzed the sparse findings to offer suggestions for assessment and treatment. This article begins with a glossary of terms to promote consistency and understanding. Next, suggestions for assessment are provided along with a work sheet to document fluency breakdowns and monitor change. Suggestions for language and cognitive issues are also provided with a sample worksheet. Finally, an outline and explanation of stuttering/fluency goals for clients with these dual diagnoses are included. Case studies of two individuals who stutter and are diagnosed with ASD are presented to provide exemplars of how to assess and treat individuals with these dual diagnoses. Caveats on how to work with individuals with ASD and fluency disorders, based on our current understanding, are presented in the conclusion.