Intensiv Stamningsterapis effekt på stamningsbeteenden, förståelighet och attityd till kommunikation hos fem barn

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of participation in an integrated intensive stuttering program (IST) on stuttering behavior, intelligibility and communication attitude, at individual and group levels. Five children aged eight to twelve years participated in the study. Stuttering behavior and intelligibility were judged by two independent students in speech and language pathology based on a total of eight video recordings, before, during and after therapy. Communication attitude was measured by the Swedish version of the self-report questionnaire Communication Attitude Test (CAT-S). At an individual level, the initial stuttering profile and the changes shown during and after the IST varied. At a group level, a significant decrease in stuttering frequency and a significantly higher level of intelligibility were found, after as compared to before therapy. Three participants had a more negative and two a more positive communication attitude after as compared to before therapy. The results of this study indicates that IST for children might have a positive effect on the participants’ stuttering behaviors and intelligibility.