An interpretative phenomenological analysis of voluntary stuttering experiences of adults who stutter

Voluntary stuttering has been an aspect of stuttering treatment for decades. However, relatively few studies have explored the utility of this strategy through the perspectives of adults who stutter. The purpose of this study was to analyze and interpret how adults who stutter perceive the utility of this technique based on their experiences, as shared through semi-structured interviews.

In total, 12 adults who stutter participated in the study. All participants had experience using voluntary stuttering that matched their true stuttering within and beyond the clinic. They answered interview questions relating to their exposure to voluntary stuttering, their use of the technique, its perceived outcomes, and the role of the speech-language pathologist. Interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to generate superordinate themes and subthemes.

The researchers developed five superordinate themes corresponding to participants' experiential claims, each with two to three subthemes: (1) desensitization (anxiety and avoidance reduction and systematic approach), (2) mindfulness (awareness of stuttering and challenging cognitive distortions), (3) self-empowerment (agency and self-acceptance), (4) implementation (individualization, discomfort, and impact on stuttering), and (5) support (therapeutic alliance and goal setting).

Voluntary stuttering that emulates the speaker's true stuttering may reduce fear and avoidance, increase agency, promote mindfulness, and facilitate acceptance of stuttering for adults who stutter. Voluntary stuttering should be individualized based on the person's emotional reactivity to stuttering.