Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP

Listener Perception Beliefs of Stuttering: Insights for Practitioners

Listener Perception Beliefs of Stuttering: Insights for Practitioners

Recent research published in the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology explores the complex landscape of listener perception beliefs and their impact on individuals who stutter. This study, "Listener Perception Beliefs of Stuttering, Prolonged Speech and Verbal Avoidance Behaviors in People who Stutter," provides crucial insights that can be transformative for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in their practice.

Key Findings from the Research

The study surveyed 106 individuals who stutter (PWS) to gauge their expectations of listener perceptions across different speech patterns. The speech patterns included:

Participants rated each speech pattern on various dimensions such as pleasantness, self-confidence, communicative competence, intelligence, social rejection, and causal attribution. Key findings include:

Implications for Speech-Language Pathologists

The research suggests that SLPs should integrate an understanding of listener perception beliefs into stuttering treatment. Here are some actionable steps:

1. Address Social Anxiety

PWS often fear negative reactions, which can exacerbate social anxiety. Clinicians should help clients understand that while some negative perceptions are common, they are not universal or insurmountable.

2. Tailor Therapy to Individual Needs

Understanding that individuals who have undergone fluency shaping therapy may have different expectations about listener perceptions can help tailor therapy more effectively. For instance, those who use prolonged speech might need additional support to manage unrealistic expectations.

3. Encourage Realistic Expectations

SLPs should educate clients about the realistic outcomes of different speech patterns. Prolonged speech, while helpful, should not be viewed as a way to completely avoid stuttering but rather as a tool to facilitate better communication.

4. Promote Flexibility in Communication Strategies

Encouraging clients to use a variety of communication strategies, including stuttered speech, spontaneous fluency, and stuttering modification, can prevent the over-reliance on any one method, which might become another form of avoidance.

Encouraging Further Research

This study opens several avenues for further research. Practitioners are encouraged to explore how these findings can be applied in different cultural contexts and with different age groups. Additionally, investigating the long-term impacts of integrating listener perception beliefs into therapy could provide valuable insights.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Listener Perception Beliefs of Stuttering, Prolonged Speech and Verbal Avoidance Behaviours in People who Stutter.


Citation: Von Tiling, J., & Von Gudenberg, A. W. (2012). Listener perception beliefs of stuttering, prolonged speech and verbal avoidance behaviors in people who stutter. Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 36(3), 204-219.
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP

Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP