T-PALS framework to assess children who stutter with coexisting disorders: A tutorial

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Child Psychology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Children who stutter often present with co-existing developmental disorders, complicating assessment.
• Existing treatment guidelines for these children lack specific assessment protocols.
• A comprehensive diagnostic approach is needed to address the multifaceted needs of dual-diagnosis children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a tutorial on the T-PALS diagnostic framework for assessing children who stutter and have comorbid conditions.
• To provide a rationale for T-PALS based on existing literature.
• To offer a structured approach for clinicians and researchers working with this population.

Main Methods:

• Development of the T-PALS framework, assessing Temperament (T), Pragmatics (P), Articulation/Phonology (A), Language (L), and Stuttering (S).
• Integration of both qualitative and quantitative measures within each of the five key elements.
• Application of the framework to two clinical case examples, including observation data and treatment suggestions.

Main Results:

• The T-PALS framework provides a structured method for evaluating children with stuttering and comorbid disorders.
• Case examples illustrate the practical application of T-PALS, demonstrating its utility in generating diagnostic insights.
• The framework facilitates the collection of observation data and informs treatment planning.

Conclusions:

• T-PALS offers a valuable and integrative framework for assessing children with stuttering and co-occurring conditions.
• The framework encourages clinicians to adopt a broader perspective beyond solely focusing on stuttering.
• A holistic diagnostic picture derived from T-PALS can lead to more effective and individualized treatment goals.