Speech-language pathologists' connotations of stuttering

Area of Science:

• Speech and Language Pathology
• Clinical Psychology
• Human Communication Sciences

Background:

• Understanding clinicians' perceptions of stuttering is crucial for effective intervention.
• Previous research has explored attitudes towards stuttering, but clinician-specific connotations require further investigation.
• The semantic differential technique offers a robust method for quantifying subjective meanings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the connotative meanings speech-language pathologists (SLPs) associate with stuttering and related concepts.
• To examine how factors like age, education, experience, and certification influence these perceptions.
• To compare clinician responses to various terms within the stuttering domain.

Main Methods:

• A semantic differential technique was employed with 206 practicing SLPs.
• Participants rated seven concepts related to stuttering across five meaning dimensions.
• Background variables including age, degree, experience, ASHA certification, and coursework were recorded.

Main Results:

• Clinician age, degree, experience, and coursework did not correlate with more positive stuttering connotations.
• Speech-language pathologists holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) exhibited more positive connotations.
• Stuttering was viewed more positively than other concepts, while stuttering therapy received the most negative evaluation.

Conclusions:

• SLPs' professional certification (CCC-SLP) is linked to more favorable perceptions of stuttering.
• Despite positive views of stuttering itself, therapy carries negative connotations among clinicians.
• Individuals who stutter are perceived negatively, though less so than the concept of stuttering therapy.