Speech Remediation of Long-Term Stuttering

Abstract

This research article describes the remediation of moderate stuttering in an adult client who experienced speech dysfluency for more than 40 years. Treatment took place at an urban residential rehabilitation mission where the client was court sentenced for a history of felonies and current narcotic sales and use. In conjunction with the operant conditioning instruction of the rehabilitation mission, the Ryan Fluency Program was implemented along with the initial use of pause time in response to the complex needs of the client. The article provides an overview of the assessment (Fluency Interviews, Criterion Tests) and treatment program. At present, 2.5 years post-initiation of treatment, the client has reported and been observed to have achieved smooth, forward-flowing, natural sounding speech throughout his work environment, family interaction, and daily life. she has established a unique program of speech pathology services.Margaret T. Vento-Wilson received her MA in communicative disorders last spring and is in her clinical fellowship year, working with elementary school children.

Speech Remediation of a Long-Term Stutter: A Case Study

“…As in McMicken and Vento-Wilson [1], the purpose of this current study was to accurately document the reduction of overt stuttering behaviors of a long-term male stutterer, and the subsequent continuous production of effective and efficient speech. The therapeutic intervention in the present study involved the combined use of a fluency-shaping behavioral approach (GILCU) and DAF, as a novel combination based on the unique needs of the participant.…”

“…The PI conducted all assessment measures with the participant: all assessment sessions were audio taped by special permission of the mission administration and recorded materials were stored on site. As in McMicken and Vento-Wilson [1], baseline fluency testing was accomplished using the revised Fluency Interview (FI) [14], with the addition of telephone speaking and the use of language appropriate for an adult. In addition to the FI, Criterion Tests (CTs) of 5 minutes each of reading, conversation, and monologue were administered at the completion of each phase of establishment, transfer and maintenance of skills.…”

“…The PI's reliability for counting incidents of stuttering was established through extensive university training under the supervision of Dr. Bruce Ryan. Further, the PI has taught the RFP for many years and has demonstrated this reliability in published research [1,18]. All estimates of WPM and counting of SW were performed following the initial evaluation, FI, and CT sessions.…”

“…During the transfer process, TF, the participant described in McMicken and Vento-Wilson, 2012, became a communication partner to MC and carried out two full sessions with MC [1]. TF and MC interacted through reading, conversation and monologue.…”

“…In 2012, McMicken and Vento-Wilson reported a case history of an adult male with a long-term developmental stutter who resided in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation mission within a large urban environment [1]. This case was subsequently reported in Yairi and Seery in 2014 [2].…”