Intensive Non-avoidance Group Therapy with Adults Stutterers: Follow Up Data

MethodThe outcomes measurement of an intensive non-avoidance group therapy for adult clients with stuttering was presented. The adults who stutter (AWS) in this study included 15 persons (average age 25.2 years) who were enrolled in the First, Second and Third Stage of the study. The male female ratio was 4:1. According to the initial SSI score (percentile) six of the clients were diagnosed as moderate stutterers, four with severe stuttering, and five with very severe stuttering (Riley, 1994). Inclusion criteria for the intensive therapy were: (i) adults older than age 21; (ii) having participated previously in therapy, and (iii) exhibiting a range of stuttering severities to ensure a representative sample.The follow up study includes measurement of: changes in speech fluency in follow up period (1, 2, and 3 years after the intensive therapy); mean duration of three longest disfluencies in seconds (DDs); and, Index of disfluencies (ID) – the number of stuttering events by the number of syllables was divided. Each speaking sample contained at least between 300 - 400 syllables. The Stuttering Severity Instrument for Adults, Third Edition [SSI–3] (Riley, 1994) was used to determine stuttering severity. The data were analysed using (i) the Wilcoxon signed rank test for hypotheses testing, and (ii) the Mann-Withney rank-sum test. For the statistical analysis, the 15 subjects were divided intotwo main groups: severe (very severe and severe), and moderate.Data collectionA review of the client's files (assessment reports and progress reports). Three types of files were recorded during the initial diagnostic evaluation, at the onset of treatment, and at the end of the 5-day intensive program. The follow up study (after the 9-month complete stabilization period) includes results evaluation after one, two and three years post treatment period.Therapy approachVan Riper's (1973) stuttering modification therapy approach, a non-avoidance approach.ConclusionsThe changes in speech fluency before and after the intensive therapy and in the follow up period (one, two and three years after the intensive therapy) were obtained regarding the duration of disfluencies and the index of disfluency. The improvement in stuttering duration was observed immediately upon completing the intensive therapy. This was reflected in a statistically significant reduction in the number of stuttered utterances per minute. These positive changes were maintained for the period of the nine months stabilization phase, then one year, two years and three years after the therapy.