Reactions of college students to speech disorders

This study investigated the reactions of college students to audiotaped speech samples of a woman simulating moderate speech disorders of stuttering, hypernasality, and lateral lisping, as well as presenting normal speech. Student reactions to these recordings were measured by a figure placement task and a 30-item semantic differential instrument. The students reacted to the speech disorders with a tendency of increased social distance in addition to judgments of lower evaluation, lower understandability, and higher anxiety. These findings suggest that students react negatively to speech disorders. Awareness of such reactions could facilitate clinical effectiveness and prepare clinicians to protect clients' rights.