Abstract:
This study investigated the effectiveness of re-treatment for 12 adolescents who participated
in a previously reported controlled trial for stuttering two to six years ago and
who were experiencing difficulties maintaining treatment gains. The programme was
successful in producing significant reductions in percentage syllables stuttered (%SS),
increases in syllables per minute (SPM) and speech naturalness after two years. The
re-treatment programme had a stronger emphasis on psychological components (e.g.
cognitive behavioural therapy, self-management) compared with initial treatment two
to six years ago. However, re-treatment did not significantly reduce anxiety or
negative communication attitudes, or enhance perceptions of control over speech.
Given that anxiety levels were normal prior to participation in the programme, and
that the majority felt that they had at least some control over their speech before
treatment, it was not surprising that no improvements in anxiety levels and perceptions
of control occurred following treatment. The outcomes for the 12 subjects
following re-treatment were also compared with their outcomes from the initial
treatment programme completed two to six years previously. While outcomes were
similar up to 12 months post-treatment, re-treatment was associated with significantly
reduced %SS and increased SPM two years post-treatment compared with the initial
treatment.
