Experiences and therapy expectations of parents of preschool children who stutter

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to inquire about the experiences and therapy expectations of parents of preschool children who stutter in Türkiye. Methods: This qualitative research used a phenomenological design. Eight parents (four mothers and four fathers) of preschool children (between 4 and 6 years) who stutter participated in the study. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed via thematic analysis. Results: Analysis of data resulted in four main themes and nine sub-themes. The findings showed that children and their parents had been adversely affected by stuttering before therapy. The parents may unintentionally engage in behaviors such as interrupting, finishing sentences, or pressuring their child to speak fluently; had limited knowledge about stuttering; and consulted information sources other than speech and language pathologists before therapy. During therapy, the adverse effects of stuttering on parents decreased; parental attitudes changed; and parents’ knowledge about stuttering increased. Parents expected that therapy would reduce the adverse impacts of stuttering during therapy, to obtain accurate information, and to see a quality interaction between speech and language pathologists and their children. Conclusion: The study reveals that therapy process transforms parents' negative experiences and corrects the inaccuracies in their knowledge about stuttering. The research highlights the importance of considering parents' experiences and expectations, as well as the cultural background of families when conducting therapies.