Treating fluency disordered adolescents

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Stuttering, a complex fluency disorder, presents significant challenges for adolescents.
• Understanding the etiological considerations of stuttering is crucial for effective intervention.
• Adolescents who stutter often struggle with affective, behavioral, and cognitive components impacting their communication.

Observation:

• This paper examines three types of stuttering syndromes.
• The study highlights the importance of affective, behavioral, and cognitive components in stuttering.
• Fluency assessment and therapy goals for adolescents are discussed.

Findings:

• A novel therapy process for fluency-disordered adolescents is proposed, comprising four distinct stages.
• The treatment program prioritizes achieving a feeling of fluency control over absolute fluency.
• Behavioral techniques are incorporated to elicit this sense of control.

Implications:

• The suggested therapy process offers a structured approach for clinicians working with adolescents who stutter.
• Achieving a feeling of fluency control can lead to improved self-efficacy and communication confidence.
• This framework provides a foundation for further research into stuttering treatment efficacy.