Self-perception of stuttering: association with self-perception of hearing, fluency profile, and contextual aspects.

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the association between self-perception of stuttering and self-perception of hearing, speech fluency profile, and contextual aspects in Brazilian adults who stutter.

Methods: Fifty-five adults who stutter (ages 18 to 58 years), speakers of Brazilian Portuguese speakers, participated in an observational study that included: (a) a clinical history survey to collect identification, sociodemographic, clinical, and assistance data; (b) the Brazil Economic Classification Criteria (CCEB); (c) a hearing self-perception questionnaire (Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale - SSQ, version 5.6); (d) self-perception of the impact of stuttering (Brazilian Portuguese version of the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering - Adults - OASES-A); and (e) an assessment of speech fluency (Fluency Profile Assessment Protocol -- PAPF). Data analysis consisted of descriptive and bivariate analysis using Pearson's chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation coefficient.

Results: Most participants were classified as moderate to severe in the total classification of the impact of stuttering. There were moderate and weak negative correlations between the participants' self-perception of stuttering and self-perception of hearing.

Conclusion: Self-perception of auditory abilities was greater to the extent that self-perception of the impacts of stuttering on quality of life was lower.