Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT, United States.
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States.
J Fluency Disord. 2019 Sep;61:105713. doi: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2019.105713. Epub 2019 Aug 20.
Individuals who covertly stutter have a unique experience of stuttering that involves concealing the core behaviors of stuttering (e.g., repetitions, prolongations, and blocks). From the listener's perspective, covert stuttering results in minimum typical, overt stuttering behaviors. However, from the speaker's perspective, covert stuttering often increases the cognitive and emotional impact of stuttering. This study explores the speech-language therapy experiences of individuals who covertly stutter in order to improve treatment recommendations and best practice.
This investigation is a qualitative analysis of individuals' speech-language therapy experiences as persons who covertly stutter. Real-time video interviews were conducted with the use of open-ended phenomenological interview questions. Interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted to investigate the speech-language therapy experiences of the participants.
The participants indicated that stuttering therapy was most impactful when it included explicit goals and activities, personalized selection of therapy techniques or strategies beyond fluency techniques, encouraged self-education, and educated those in the person's environment.
The evidence suggests individualized therapy based on each client's unique manifestation of covert stuttering is beneficial; while, fluency-focused stuttering therapy is often incongruent with the needs of persons who covertly stutter. Therapeutic implications and recommendations for speech-language pathologists are discussed.
隐性口吃者有着独特的口吃体验，他们会隐藏口吃的核心行为（例如，重复、延长和停顿）。从听众的角度来看，隐性口吃导致典型的、明显的口吃行为最小化。然而，从说话者的角度来看，隐性口吃往往会增加口吃的认知和情绪影响。本研究探讨了隐性口吃者的言语治疗体验，以期改善治疗建议和最佳实践。
本研究采用实时视频访谈，对隐性口吃者的言语治疗体验进行了定性分析，使用开放式现象学访谈问题。对访谈进行了转录，并对访谈记录进行了主题分析，以调查参与者的言语治疗体验。
参与者表示，当口吃治疗包括明确的目标和活动、个性化选择治疗技术或策略（超越流畅技术）、鼓励自我教育以及教育口吃者的环境中的人时，治疗效果最显著。
有证据表明，基于每个隐性口吃者独特表现的个性化治疗是有益的；而以流畅性为重点的口吃治疗往往不符合隐性口吃者的需求。讨论了对言语语言病理学家的治疗意义和建议。
