Ethical and Clinical Implications of Pseudostuttering

Abstract

Purpose: Pseudostuttering is a form of disability simulation that often id used in fluency disorders courses to create empathy for people who stutter. The purpose of this study was to examine the ethical implications of pseudostuttering and to determine whether extending the duration of pseudostuttering activities is more beneficial for students’ clinical education. Method: Twenty students in a graduate fluency disorders course engaged in public pseudostuttering for 6 weeks. Each student completed 30 pseudostuttering experiences during the experiment. Data were gathered in the form of quantitative checklists and open-ended journal entries. Descriptive and Chi-square statistics were used to identify how students’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviors changed on a weekly basis. Thematic analysis of journal entries was also conducted. Results: Anxiety ratings decreased for every additional week of pseudostuttering. Decreased emotionality, increased clinical insights, and more willingness to pseudostutter in incr...