Journal of Fluency Disorders最新文献

{"title":"EEG responses to auditory cues during speech preparation predict stuttering severity and intervention outcome","authors":"Mónica Filipa Rocha ,&nbsp;Jaqueline Carmona ,&nbsp;João Mendonça Correia","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106163","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106163","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stuttering is a variable speech disorder whose brain mechanisms remain unknown. Sensorimotor brain circuits, critical in motor-speech control, including the prediction and monitoring of speech consequences, have been linked to the disorder. Despite considerable advances, it remains unclear whether auditory neural circuits relate to stuttering severity, and whether interventions to persons who stutter can induce underlying brain changes. We employed electroencephalography (EEG), in a group of persons who stutter (PWS), in combination with auditory probes to tap onto the relevance of auditory cortical regions in stuttering severity. Participants produced flexible speech (i.e., describing pictures) and non-flexible speech (i.e., reading syllables), following an auditory cue. More pronounced P200 auditory evoked potentials in response to the auditory cues were observed in participants with more severe stuttering, mainly in the picture task. Interestingly, while speech therapy intervention led to a reduction (albeit non-significant) of the P200 potential, this reduction was marginally correlated to speech fluency improvements. Moreover, EEG response patterns discriminative of cue tone frequency (400 Hz versus 800 Hz) were also predictive of stuttering severity, suggesting the involvement of fine-grained auditory cortical processing in speech preparation and stuttering. Overall, this study confirms a relationship between auditory processing of external sounds and the mechanisms of stuttering during the preparation to speak and highlights the advantage of a picture description task to investigate the relationship between auditory evoked potentials and stuttering severity under relatively ecological conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106163"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145220411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"More than meets the eye: Self-rated covert stuttering is linked to reduced psychosocial and communicative outcomes","authors":"Michael P. Boyle,&nbsp;Amy L. Rosen","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The purpose of this study was to investigate whether self-rated covert stuttering (i.e., the extent of being able to keep stuttering hidden from others) was associated with anxiety, quality of life, social role satisfaction, speech usage, and salience of stuttering among adults who stutter.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A sample of 316 adults who stutter was asked about the extent to which they believed they were successful in concealing their stuttering so that others did not know that they stuttered. The sample was divided into two groups, one comprised of people who believed they were more often than not overtly stuttering, and those who believed they were more covert. Groups were compared on variables of anxiety, quality of life, social role satisfaction, speech usage, and salience of stuttering, taking into account demographic and speech-related variables.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were significant correlations between level of self-rated covertness and all dependent variables. The group that reported being more covert reported significantly higher levels of stuttering salience, and significantly lower levels of quality of life, social role satisfaction, and speech usage compared to the less covert group, after taking into account demographic variables.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Focusing on stuttering visibility in therapy or research, without taking covert stuttering into account, may not optimize outcomes important psychosocial and communicative factors important to people who stutter. Taking into account the extent to which a person who stutters tries to hide their stuttering in assessment and treatment may help improve psychosocial and communicative outcomes, regardless of their physical speech disruption severity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106162"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145158154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Attitudes toward stuttering of speech-language pathology students from Puerto Rico before and after completing the degree","authors":"Edna J. Carlo ,&nbsp;Bárbara M. Pratts-Pérez ,&nbsp;Kenneth O. St. Louis","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study examines the attitudes towards stuttering of 18 Hispanic students from the University of Puerto Rico, before and after their master’s speech-language pathology (SLP) training, using the <em>Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes–Stuttering</em> (<em>POSHA–S</em>).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two cohorts of students completed the Spanish version of the <em>POSHA–S</em> during initial graduate orientation and post-graduation interviews.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistically significant changes were observed in attitudes, with an overall improvement in the Overall Stuttering Score (OSS), Beliefs, and Self Reactions. Fifteen of 62 comparisons</div><div>(24 %) were significant, with an average change of 1.6 standard deviations, indicating a “very large” effect size. Pre-training student attitudes were similar to those of the Puerto Rican public but worse than those of Puerto Rican teachers. Compared to &gt; 200 samples in the international <em>POSHA–S</em> database, students’ mean rank increased from pre- to post-training from the 58th percentile to the 79th percentile, reflecting more positive attitudes compared to global data.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of graduate training in improving SLP students' attitudes towards stuttering, highlighting a significant positive shift from initial attitudes similar to the public to a more informed perspective post-education. This suggests that SLP training can effectively influence perceptions and beliefs about stuttering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145118953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sublexical speech perception and attention networks in bilingual adults who stutter: A behavioral and electrophysiological study","authors":"Annelien Dorme ,&nbsp;Yana Criel ,&nbsp;Kurt Eggers ,&nbsp;Evy Woumans ,&nbsp;Arnaud Szmalec ,&nbsp;Miet De Letter","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Several studies show that adults who stutter have deficient auditory perception and attentional control. Moreover, these studies tend to focus on monolinguals, whereas both stuttering and bilingualism seem to have implications for these processes. This study aimed (1) to compare sublexical speech perception and nonlinguistic, nonauditory attention networks between bilingual adults who stutter (BAWS) and who do not stutter (BANS) and (2) to explore to which extent second language (L2) proficiency influences these processes.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Thirteen BAWS and thirteen BANS were enrolled in an electrophysiological protocol using an inattentive (MMN) and an attentive auditory oddball paradigm (P300) containing a phonemic contrast (place of articulation). The Attention Network Test (ANT) was administered as a behavioral measure of attentional control.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>(1) The amplitude and onset latency of the MMN and P300 effect did not differ between BAWS and BANS, but BAWS did not show a typical differentiation between standard and deviant syllables as measured by the P2. Behaviorally, BAWS displayed a less efficient alerting network and executive attention network. (2) L2 proficiency had no significant effect on sublexical speech perception, but was negatively associated with executive attention in BAWS.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These results suggest that BAWS display difficulties in maintaining an alert state and inhibiting irrelevant and selecting relevant information, rather than selecting information from sensory input. In sensory processing, BAWS showed an atypical pattern compared to BANS, but no disparities in phoneme discrimination or categorization, regardless of an inattentive or attentive listening mode. Lastly, L2 proficiency influenced nonlinguistic, nonauditory attention in BAWS, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive research on bilingual profiles in people who stutter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106160"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship between familiarity with a person who stutters and vocational stereotyping.","authors":"Cody W Dew, Rodney M Gabel","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Previous research has identified vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. There continues to be a need to understand factors that might influence vocational stereotyping. This study aimed to understand if having a relationship with a person who stutters influences vocational stereotyping.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Using an online survey, participants identified if they know a person who stutters as well as the type and closeness of that relationship. Then, participants completed the Vocational Advice Scale (VAS). Relationships between familiarity with a person who stutters and VAS scale ratings were investigated using multiple statistical analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicate that knowing a person who stutters has no significant effect on VAS scores for any career, including high-communication careers that are typically less advised for a person who stutters. Results also indicate that the closeness or type of relationship with a person who stutters has no significant impact on scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Individuals who have a relationship with a person who stutters appear to demonstrate vocational stereotyping towards people who stutter. In other words, even those closest to people who stutter view careers requiring high communication demands as less appropriate for them. How these results contribute to understanding vocational stereotypes and role entrapment are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"106146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144805161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differential tolerance for the judgement of dysfluencies as stuttered speech in native and non-native speech-language pathologists","authors":"Audrey J. Dsouza,&nbsp;Santosh Maruthy","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Accurate diagnosis of stuttering requires careful observation by trained professionals. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) typically identify stuttering using a perceptual judgement. However, it is unclear if this perception is based on the amount or the type of dysfluencies. Hence, the study aimed to determine the frequency of syllable/part-word repetitions judged as stuttered and to determine if the listener's language influences their judgement of fluency.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Narrative samples of a Kannada-speaking child who stutters containing 1 %, 3 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % of syllable or part-word repetitions were judged by 27 Kannada and Malayalam-speaking SLPs each as fluent, disfluent, or stuttered. Further, an opinion about recommending the child for speech therapy was taken. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were performed to compare the difference between the two groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Comparison between the five frequencies of dysfluencies and the judgement of speech revealed a significant difference for Kannada and Malayalam language groups. The non-native SLPs required more dysfluencies to judge speech as stuttered compared to the native SLPs. Both groups of SLPs recommended speech therapy for samples above 5 % dysfluencies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Familiarity of Malayalam-speaking SLPs with the Kannada language and the experience of the participants in the assessment of stuttering could have influenced the differences obtained in this study. However, current results indicate a differential threshold for the perception of dysfluencies (syllable and part-word repetitions) and the influence of the listener's language familiarity. Hence, language familiarity may be a factor in the judgement of dysfluencies as fluent, disfluent, and stuttered speech.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"86 ","pages":"Article 106150"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144926730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the response quality and readability of ChatGPT in stuttering","authors":"Saeed Saeedi ,&nbsp;Mehdi Bakhtiar","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to examine how frequently asked questions regarding stuttering were comprehended and answered by ChatGPT.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In this exploratory study, eleven common questions about stuttering were asked in a single conversation with the GPT-4o mini. While being blind relative to the source of the answers (whether by AI or SLPs), a panel of five certified speech and language pathologists (SLPs) was requested to differentiate if responses were produced by the ChatGPT chatbot or provided by SLPs. Additionally, they were instructed to evaluate the responses based on several criteria, including the presence of inaccuracies, the potential for causing harm and the degree of harm that could result, and alignment with the prevailing consensus within the SLP community. All ChatGPT responses were also evaluated utilizing various readability features, including the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Gunning Fog Scale Level (GFSL), and Dale-Chall Score (D-CS), the number of words, number of sentences, words per sentence (WPS), characters per word (CPW), and the percentage of difficult words. Furthermore, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was employed to examine relationship between the evaluations conducted by the panel of certified SLPs and readability features.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A substantial proportion of the AI-generated responses (45.50 %) were incorrectly identified by SLP panel as being written by other SLPs, indicating high perceived human-likeness (origin). Regarding content quality, 83.60 % of the responses were found to be accurate (incorrectness), 63.60 % were rated as harmless (harm), and 38.20 % were considered to cause only minor to moderate impact (extent of harm). In terms of professional alignment, 62 % of the responses reflected the prevailing views within the SLP community (consensus). The means ± standard deviation of FRES, GFSL, and D-CS were 26.52 ± 13.94 (readable for college graduates), 18.17 ± 3.39 (readable for graduate students), and 9.90 ± 1.08 (readable for 13th to 15th grade [college]), respectively. Furthermore, each response contained an average of 99.73 words, 6.80 sentences, 17.44 WPS, 5.79 CPW, and 27.96 % difficult words. The correlation coefficients ranged between significantly large negative value (<em>r</em> = -0.909, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) to very large positive value (<em>r</em> = 0.918, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results revealed that the emerging ChatGPT possesses a promising capability to provide appropriate responses to frequently asked questions in the field of stuttering, which is attested by the fact that panel of certified SLPs perceived about 45 % of them to be generated by SLPs. However, given the increasing accessibility of AI tools, particularly among individuals with limited access to professional services, it is crucial to emphasize that such tools are intended solely for educati","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106149"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144885840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Stage-1 trial of a hybrid speech-focused treatment for stuttering delivered in a non-residential semi-intensive format","authors":"Jessica Smith ,&nbsp;Charlotte King ,&nbsp;Nathan D. Maxfield","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>From 1981–1999, Pat Richard Sacco directed a residential, highly intensive, group, hybrid speech-focused treatment program for stuttering, five weeks in duration, which yielded significant reductions in stuttering and improved communication attitude. However, this model is costly, which may be a barrier to treatment. The aim of this study was to document preliminary outcomes of a three-week, non-residential, semi-intensive version of the program.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Using a single subject, multiple-baseline, stacked AB design featuring three participants who stutter (two adults, one adolescent), baseline speech (monologue, read-aloud) was compared with speech following three treatment phases (stuttering exposure, stuttering modification, speech stabilization) for frequency of primary and secondary stuttering behaviors and speech rate. Ratings of speech naturalness were collected from listeners with no training in speech-language pathology. Finally, participant impressions of the treatment program and treatment impacts were gathered from graduation speeches.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Relative to baseline speech, by the end of treatment: a) frequency of primary and secondary stuttering behaviors decreased to zero or near-zero for all participants, b) speech rate increased for one participant and decreased in one or both speaking tasks for two participants, and c) speech was produced with near-typical naturalness. Participants endorsed increased knowledge and confidence, sense of community, and speech-related behavioral changes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The treatment reduced stuttering and changed speech rate, improved speech naturalness, and drove other acute perceived benefits in all participants. Additional research is warranted to document outcomes more comprehensively, on a larger scale, over the longer term, possibly with refinements for improving outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144865269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Left thalamic deep brain stimulation for persistent developmental stuttering","authors":"Christian A. Kell ,&nbsp;Nils Warneke ,&nbsp;Verena Zentsch ,&nbsp;Johannes Kasper ,&nbsp;Melanie Vauth-Weidig ,&nbsp;Tobias Warnecke ,&nbsp;Katrin Neumann","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><div>Persistent developmental stuttering is a frequent speech fluency disorder that can considerably reduce quality of life. Because available therapies do not always provide satisfying results, new therapeutic approaches are needed. The anomalous cerebral speech network in persons who stutter provides substrate for neuromodulation. We report here the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) used for the first time to treat stuttering.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A 24-year-old male who stuttered severely since childhood received chronic left ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus electrical stimulation following a patient- and examiners-blinded two-year stimulation protocol. Stuttering frequency was determined as percent stuttered syllables and stuttering severity using the Stuttering Severity Instrument – 4th edition (SSI-4). The Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering – Adults (OASES-A) questionnaire quantified the patient’s self-evaluated experience of stuttering and quality of life.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The average stuttering frequency decreased by 46 % postoperatively and the stuttering severity by 29 %. The maximal achieved reduction of stuttering frequency was 62 % and of stuttering severity 39 %; self-assessment of stuttering improved by 38 %. Stuttering frequency was negatively associated with DBS stimulation frequency, demonstrating a biological stimulation effect beyond any potential placebo effects. Stuttering responded to stimulation parameter changes with a lag of several weeks, pointing to a rather slow modulatory than direct suppressive effect of deep brain stimulation on stuttering.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These results suggest deep brain stimulation as a new treatment option for severe stuttering and warrant further systematic exploration in a series of people who stutter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106147"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144860644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Desensitizing parents of preschool children who stutter: The effect on attitudes and anxiety of both children and parents","authors":"Ayhan Çağlayan ,&nbsp;Eren Balo ,&nbsp;İlknur Maviş","doi":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfludis.2025.106141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to investigate if preschool children’s communication attitudes and speech behaviors, and their parents’ feelings and attitudes towards stuttering, overall parenting attitudes, and anxiety levels differ after desensitizing the parents to stuttering.</div></div><div><h3>Material and Methods</h3><div>20 preschool children who stutter (CWS) and their parents participated in the study. Employing one-group pre-test–post-test experimental design, the research data were collected before the therapy, immediately after the therapy, and three months post-therapy for follow-up. The mothers and fathers completed the Turkish version of ‘‘Stuttering-Parental Diagnostic Questionnaire”, “Parental Attitude Scale”, and “The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory”, while the children were administered “Turkish Communication Attitude Test for Preschool and Kindergarten Children Who Stutter”. The therapy was carried out across 8 weeks and 10 sessions in total only with the parents. For statistical analysis, independent <em>t</em>-test was used for the difference between two independent groups, and repeated measures analysis of variance was utilized to compare pre, post and follow-up data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Following the desensitization therapy applied to the parents, statistically significant positive improvements were observed in children’s communication attitudes and speech behaviors and in parents’ feelings and attitudes towards stuttering. Based on the 4 types of parenting styles (Karabulut Demir &amp; Şendil, 2008), the parents exhibited significantly more democratic and less authoritarian, less overprotective, and less permissive attitudes. The decrease in the overall anxiety levels of the parents was also statistically significant.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Desensitizing parents to stuttering was effective for the management of stuttering during preschool years for both parties— the parents and their children</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49166,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Fluency Disorders","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 106141"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}