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:
- Normal fluency
- Stuttered speech (repetitions, prolongations, blocks)
- Prolonged speech learned in fluency shaping therapy
- Hesitant speech (verbal avoidance behaviors like interjections and revisions)
- A mix of stuttered speech and hesitant speech
Participants rated each speech pattern on various dimensions such as pleasantness, self-confidence, communicative competence, intelligence, social rejection, and causal attribution. Key findings include:
- Fluent speech was perceived most positively across all dimensions.
- Hesitant speech was perceived most negatively.
- Prolonged speech was generally rated more positively than stuttered speech by those who had undergone fluency shaping therapy.
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.
