How Expert and Generalist Speech Pathologists Address Stuttering Variability in Assessment and Treatment
Tracks
5
Adolescent
Adult
Assessment
Early intervention
Fluency
Stuttering/fluency
Therapy
| Saturday, June 14, 2025 |
| 10:55 AM - 11:05 AM |
Overview
Dr Hamid Kamiri, Amir Hossein Rasoli Jokar and Professor J Scott Yaruss
Details
⏫ In-practice
⏲️ 10.55am - 11.15am
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Intermediate (Some previous learning/working knowledge of topic e.g. treated a few cases)
⏲️ 10.55am - 11.15am
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Intermediate (Some previous learning/working knowledge of topic e.g. treated a few cases)
Presenter
Dr Hamid Karimi
Charles Darwin University
How Expert and Generalist Speech Pathologists Address Stuttering Variability in Assessment and Treatment
10:55 AM - 11:15 AMPresentation summary
This study explores how expert and generalist speech pathologists observe and manage the variability of stuttering in clinical practice. Variability in stuttering can be challenging, as it affects not only observable speech behaviors but also emotions, beliefs, and the ability of individuals who stutter to engage in daily activities. This study aims to bridge the gap in understanding how variability is addressed during assessment and intervention by speech pathologists with differing levels of expertise.
A mixed-method survey was completed by 143 practicing SLPs, including 27 self-identified experts and 116 generalists. Experts averaged 21.66 years of experience working with people who stutter, with 61.46% of their caseload focused on stuttering. Generalists had an average of 15.61 years of experience, with only 8.15% of their caseload involving clients who stutter.
Results showed that both experts and generalists observed significant variability in stuttering severity, behaviors, emotions, and daily activities. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in their observations. Both groups employed a range of strategies to address variability, such as role-playing, hierarchical skill-building, and gradual exposure to real-world communication challenges. Experts emphasized the importance of long-term monitoring, adaptability, and real-world engagement to manage variability effectively.
The study underscores the need for personalized and flexible treatment plans that account for the dynamic nature of stuttering. By adopting real-world-based approaches and ongoing assessments, speech pathologists can better address both overt and covert aspects of stuttering, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals who stutter.
In this presentation, the strategies suggested by expert speech pathologists for addressing variability in assessment and treatment will be discussed. Audience engagement will be fostered through quick polling activities, encouraging participants to share their own experiences with stuttering variability in clinical practice.
A mixed-method survey was completed by 143 practicing SLPs, including 27 self-identified experts and 116 generalists. Experts averaged 21.66 years of experience working with people who stutter, with 61.46% of their caseload focused on stuttering. Generalists had an average of 15.61 years of experience, with only 8.15% of their caseload involving clients who stutter.
Results showed that both experts and generalists observed significant variability in stuttering severity, behaviors, emotions, and daily activities. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in their observations. Both groups employed a range of strategies to address variability, such as role-playing, hierarchical skill-building, and gradual exposure to real-world communication challenges. Experts emphasized the importance of long-term monitoring, adaptability, and real-world engagement to manage variability effectively.
The study underscores the need for personalized and flexible treatment plans that account for the dynamic nature of stuttering. By adopting real-world-based approaches and ongoing assessments, speech pathologists can better address both overt and covert aspects of stuttering, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals who stutter.
In this presentation, the strategies suggested by expert speech pathologists for addressing variability in assessment and treatment will be discussed. Audience engagement will be fostered through quick polling activities, encouraging participants to share their own experiences with stuttering variability in clinical practice.
Refrences
Arenas, R. M. (2017). Conceptualizing and investigating the contextual variability of stuttering: The speech and monitoring interaction (SAMI) framework. Speech, Language and Hearing, 20(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/2050571X.2016.1221877
Baxter, S., Johnson, M., Blank, L., Cantrell, A., Brumfitt, S., Enderby, P., & Goyder, E. (2015). The state of the art in non‐pharmacological interventions for developmental stuttering. Part 1: A systematic review of effectiveness. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 50(5), 676–718. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12171
Bloodstein, O., Bernstein Ratner, N., & Brundage, S. B. (2021). A handbook on stuttering. Plural Publishing.
Bothe, A. K., Davidow, J. H., Bramlett, R. E., & Ingham, R. J. (2006). Stuttering Treatment Research 1970–2005: I. Systematic review incorporating trial quality assessment of behavioral, cognitive, and related approaches. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 15(4), 321–341. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2006/031)
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Brignell, A., Krahe, M., Downes, M., Kefalianos, E., Reilly, S., & Morgan, A. T. (2020). A systematic review of interventions for adults who stutter. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 64, 105766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2020.105766
Briley, P. M., & Briley, P. M. (2018). Issues in assessment of children who stutter: A survey of speech-language pathologists in the state of North Carolina. Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders, 3(2), 95–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.21849/cacd.2018.00353
Brundage, S. B., Bernstein Ratner, N., Boyle, M. P., Eggers, K., Everard, R., Franken, M.-C., Kefalianos, E., Marcotte, A. K., Millard, S., Packman, A., Vanryckeghem, M., & Yaruss, J. S. (2021). Consensus guidelines for the assessments of individuals who stutter across the lifespan. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30(6), 2379–2393. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00107
Constantino, C. D., Leslie, P., Quesal, R. W., & Yaruss, J. S. (2016). A preliminary investigation of daily variability of stuttering in adults. Journal of Communication Disorders, 60, 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2016.02.001
Fusch Ph D, P. I., & Ness, L. R. (2015). Are we there yet? Data saturation in qualitative research.
Karimi, H., O’Brian, S., Onslow, M., Jones, M., Menzies, R., & Packman, A. (2013). Using statistical process control charts to study stuttering frequency variability during a single day. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 56(6), 1789–1799. https://doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2013/12-0328)
Maruthy, S., & Sharma, R. (2018). Documenting day-to-day variability in stuttering. Speech, Language and Hearing, 21(4), 236–244.https://doi.org/10.1080/2050571X.2017.1371392
Murphy, W. P., Yaruss, J. S., & Quesal, R. W. (2007). Enhancing treatment for school-age children who stutter: I. Reducing negative reactions through desensitization and cognitive restructuring. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 32(2), 121–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2007.02.002
Oyler, M. E., & Chmela, K. A. (2003). The role of stuttering specialists in the school setting. Seminars in Speech and Language, 24(1), 047–052. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2003-37386
Packman, A., Onslow, M., Richard, F., & Doorn, J. V. (1996). Syllabic stress and variability: A model of stuttering. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 10(3), 235–263. https://doi.org/10.3109/02699209608985174
Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. Sage publications.
Plexico, L. W., Manning, W. H., & DiLollo, A. (2010). Client perceptions of effective and ineffective therapeutic alliances during treatment for stuttering. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 35(4), 333–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2010.07.001
Tichenor, S. E., & Yaruss, J. S. (2019). Stuttering as defined by adults who stutter. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62(12), 4356–4369. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_JSLHR-19-00137
Tichenor, S. E., & Yaruss, J. S. (2021). Variability of stuttering: behavior and impact. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30(1), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-20-00112
Upton, G. J. G. (1992). Fisher’s exact test. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (Statistics in Society), 155(3), 395. https://doi.org/10.2307/2982890
Yaruss, J. S. (1997). Clinical implications of situational variability in preschool children who stutter. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 22(3), 187–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-730X(97)00009-0
Yaruss, J. S. (2010). Assessing quality of life in stuttering treatment outcomes research. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 35(3), 190–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2010.05.010
Zebrowski, P. M. (1997). Assisting Young Children Who Stutter and Their Families: Defining the Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 6(2), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360.0602.19
Baxter, S., Johnson, M., Blank, L., Cantrell, A., Brumfitt, S., Enderby, P., & Goyder, E. (2015). The state of the art in non‐pharmacological interventions for developmental stuttering. Part 1: A systematic review of effectiveness. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 50(5), 676–718. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12171
Bloodstein, O., Bernstein Ratner, N., & Brundage, S. B. (2021). A handbook on stuttering. Plural Publishing.
Bothe, A. K., Davidow, J. H., Bramlett, R. E., & Ingham, R. J. (2006). Stuttering Treatment Research 1970–2005: I. Systematic review incorporating trial quality assessment of behavioral, cognitive, and related approaches. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 15(4), 321–341. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2006/031)
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Brignell, A., Krahe, M., Downes, M., Kefalianos, E., Reilly, S., & Morgan, A. T. (2020). A systematic review of interventions for adults who stutter. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 64, 105766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2020.105766
Briley, P. M., & Briley, P. M. (2018). Issues in assessment of children who stutter: A survey of speech-language pathologists in the state of North Carolina. Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders, 3(2), 95–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.21849/cacd.2018.00353
Brundage, S. B., Bernstein Ratner, N., Boyle, M. P., Eggers, K., Everard, R., Franken, M.-C., Kefalianos, E., Marcotte, A. K., Millard, S., Packman, A., Vanryckeghem, M., & Yaruss, J. S. (2021). Consensus guidelines for the assessments of individuals who stutter across the lifespan. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30(6), 2379–2393. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00107
Constantino, C. D., Leslie, P., Quesal, R. W., & Yaruss, J. S. (2016). A preliminary investigation of daily variability of stuttering in adults. Journal of Communication Disorders, 60, 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2016.02.001
Fusch Ph D, P. I., & Ness, L. R. (2015). Are we there yet? Data saturation in qualitative research.
Karimi, H., O’Brian, S., Onslow, M., Jones, M., Menzies, R., & Packman, A. (2013). Using statistical process control charts to study stuttering frequency variability during a single day. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 56(6), 1789–1799. https://doi.org/10.1044/1092-4388(2013/12-0328)
Maruthy, S., & Sharma, R. (2018). Documenting day-to-day variability in stuttering. Speech, Language and Hearing, 21(4), 236–244.https://doi.org/10.1080/2050571X.2017.1371392
Murphy, W. P., Yaruss, J. S., & Quesal, R. W. (2007). Enhancing treatment for school-age children who stutter: I. Reducing negative reactions through desensitization and cognitive restructuring. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 32(2), 121–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2007.02.002
Oyler, M. E., & Chmela, K. A. (2003). The role of stuttering specialists in the school setting. Seminars in Speech and Language, 24(1), 047–052. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2003-37386
Packman, A., Onslow, M., Richard, F., & Doorn, J. V. (1996). Syllabic stress and variability: A model of stuttering. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 10(3), 235–263. https://doi.org/10.3109/02699209608985174
Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice. Sage publications.
Plexico, L. W., Manning, W. H., & DiLollo, A. (2010). Client perceptions of effective and ineffective therapeutic alliances during treatment for stuttering. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 35(4), 333–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2010.07.001
Tichenor, S. E., & Yaruss, J. S. (2019). Stuttering as defined by adults who stutter. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 62(12), 4356–4369. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_JSLHR-19-00137
Tichenor, S. E., & Yaruss, J. S. (2021). Variability of stuttering: behavior and impact. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30(1), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_AJSLP-20-00112
Upton, G. J. G. (1992). Fisher’s exact test. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (Statistics in Society), 155(3), 395. https://doi.org/10.2307/2982890
Yaruss, J. S. (1997). Clinical implications of situational variability in preschool children who stutter. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 22(3), 187–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0094-730X(97)00009-0
Yaruss, J. S. (2010). Assessing quality of life in stuttering treatment outcomes research. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 35(3), 190–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2010.05.010
Zebrowski, P. M. (1997). Assisting Young Children Who Stutter and Their Families: Defining the Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 6(2), 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360.0602.19
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A speech pathologist with a wide range of experience teaching different units of study to undergraduate and postgraduate speech pathology students and with more than 15 years hands-on experience in providing quality, family-centered assessment and intervention in both adult and child settings. Effectively interact with students and clients across various cultural and ethnic groups. Complementary strengths in mentoring and supervising students in conducting research, developing individualized education goals, and practicing in the field of speech pathology. Have comprehensive knowledge of research methodology, good at statistical analysis and active in publishing books/chapter books and academic papers in professional peer-reviewed speech pathology journals. My special fields of interest are stuttering, cross-cultural studies, transdisciplinary health services, and tele-health in speech pathology.
Amir Hossein Rasoli Jokar
How Expert and Generalist Speech Pathologists Address Stuttering Variability in Assessment and Treatment
10:55 AM - 11:15 AM**********
Professor J Scott Yaruss
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mi 48440
How Expert and Generalist Speech Pathologists Address Stuttering Variability in Assessment and Treatment
10:55 AM - 11:15 AM**********
J Scott Yaruss, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, F-ASHA, is a professor of communicative sciences and disorders at Michigan State University in the United States and the president of Stuttering Therapy Resources (www.StutteringTherapyResources.com). His research, which is funded by both the US National Institutes of Health and the US National Science Foundation, focuses on identifying and diminishing the adverse impact of stuttering on people's lives. He has published hundreds of articles, papers, and books on stuttering and given more than 1,000 presentations on stuttering around the world.
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
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