An Exploration of Clinicians Views About Assessment and Treatment of Stuttering

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine school speech-language pathologists’ knowledge of and skill levels with assessing and treating stuttering. This paper provides information on 255 school speech-language pathologists who responded to a 49-question survey about stuttering. The instrument contained questions that addressed specific aspects of assessment and treatment as well as general questions about stuttering. Results indicate that on average, the speech-language pathologists had only treated 12 children who stuttered throughout their careers and averaged 2 children who stuttered on their caseloads per year. Data indicate that regardless of whether the speech-language pathologists took graduate course work in fluency disorders, had their Certificate of Clinical Competence, or attended continuing education workshops in fluency disorders, they lacked basic knowledge and skills in assessing and treating stuttering. Systematic training in specific aspects of assessment and treatment for people...