Stidham Katrina R, Olson Lisa, Hillbratt Martin, Sinopoli Teri
California Ear Institute, San Ramon, California 94583, USA.
Laryngoscope. 2006 Nov;116(11):1951-5. doi: 10.1097/01.mlg.0000236079.52499.0b.
Stuttering is a communication disorder affecting approximately 1% of the adult population, some with severe manifestations. Speech therapy improves stuttering, but many do not receive enough benefit to communicate fluently. Antistuttering devices have been available for several years, but available technology has been limited in long-term success and reliability. The current study evaluates the effects of a prototype device using a modification of a currently used bone conduction hearing device with delayed auditory feedback on adult patients with significant stuttering problems.
A prospective nonrandomized study evaluating effects of a prototype device on stuttering in adult subjects.
Ten stutterers > or=18 years of age were fit with a bone conduction device on a headband with temporal feedback delayed according to patient preference between 5 and 130 msec. Patients were asked to wear the device at least 4 hours per day for 4 weeks. Stuttering Severity Index-3 (SSI-3) tests were completed at prefit, immediate postfit, and at 2-week, 4-week, and 6-week intervals. Questionnaires were also completed at each visit.
: Nine patients completed the entire study. A statistically significant decline in SSI-3 scores was documented from prefit compared with immediate postfit and 4 weeks follow up (P < .001) using the Tukey test method. Statistical significance was approached but not reached at 2 weeks. There was no significant difference between prefit and the 6-week follow up when patients had returned the device. Patients subjectively noted improvement in their speech and confidence using the device.
A new antistuttering prototype using a modification of a bone conduction device with delayed temporal feedback is effective in decreasing stuttering in patients over a short time course. Further studies need to be completed to evaluate the long-term effects of the device.
口吃是一种影响约1%成年人口的交流障碍，部分患者症状严重。言语治疗可改善口吃，但许多患者未获得足够益处以实现流畅交流。抗口吃设备已问世数年，但现有技术在长期效果和可靠性方面存在局限。本研究评估一种原型设备的效果，该设备通过对当前使用的骨传导听力设备进行改良，加入延迟听觉反馈，用于治疗有明显口吃问题的成年患者。
一项前瞻性非随机研究，评估一种原型设备对成年受试者口吃的影响。
10名年龄≥18岁的口吃者佩戴一款头带式骨传导设备，根据患者偏好将颞部反馈延迟5至130毫秒。要求患者每天至少佩戴该设备4小时，持续4周。在佩戴前、佩戴后即刻、以及2周、4周和6周间隔时完成口吃严重程度指数-3（SSI-3）测试。每次就诊时还需完成问卷调查。
9名患者完成了整个研究。使用Tukey检验方法，与佩戴后即刻和4周随访相比，佩戴前SSI-3评分有统计学显著下降（P < .001）。2周时接近但未达到统计学显著性。患者归还设备后，佩戴前与6周随访之间无显著差异。患者主观上注意到使用该设备后言语和自信心有所改善。
一种采用改良骨传导设备并带有延迟颞部反馈的新型抗口吃原型设备在短时间内可有效减少患者的口吃。需要完成进一步研究以评估该设备的长期效果。
