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Unlocking Attention: How Dysfluencies Impact Stutterers and Non-Stutterers

Unlocking Attention: How Dysfluencies Impact Stutterers and Non-Stutterers

As a Special Education Director, you understand the importance of staying informed about the latest research and strategies to support students with diverse needs. A recent study titled "The Effect of Dysfluencies on Attention in Stutterers and Non-Stutterers" offers valuable insights that can help practitioners like you improve their skills and approaches. This blog will summarize the key findings of the study and provide actionable steps to implement these insights in your practice.

Key Findings from the Study

The study, conducted by Yovetich, Booth, and Tyler (1977), explored how dysfluencies (such as stuttering) affect attention in both stutterers and non-stutterers. The researchers used a dichotic listening task, where participants were asked to shadow (repeat) a message in one ear while ignoring a competing message in the other ear. The tasks were divided into two types:

The results revealed that stutterers made significantly more errors in shadowing when the non-shadowed message was dysfluent compared to when it was fluent. Non-stutterers, on the other hand, showed no significant difference in their performance between the two tasks.

Implications for Practitioners

The findings of this study have several important implications for practitioners working with students who stutter:

Encouraging Further Research

While this study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for further research in this area. Encourage your team and colleagues to explore additional studies and stay updated on the latest findings. Consider participating in conferences, webinars, and other professional development opportunities to deepen your understanding of stuttering and its impact on attention.

Action Steps for Practitioners

Here are some practical steps you can take to implement the findings of this study in your practice:

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Effect of Dysfluencies on Attention in Stutterers and Non-Stutterers.


Citation: Yovetich, W. S., Booth, J. C., & Tyler, R. S. (1977). The effect of dysfluencies on attention in stutterers and non-stutterers. Human Communication, 1(1), 1-68.
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.

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