Long-term evaluation of psychosocial impact and stuttering severity after intensive stuttering therapy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term stability of objective and subjective psychosocial improvements and fluency more than 10 years after participation in an intensive stuttering therapy camp. METHOD: Ten former participants in intensive stuttering therapy (IST; mean age at time of intervention 14; 2 years) participated in this study. Outcomes of the IST at that time were assessed with the Stuttering Severity Instrument (SSI-3; Riley, 1994) and a questionnaire to measure the psychosocial impact of stuttering. A semi-structured video call and a general questionnaire for the long-term evaluation were used to gauge the participants' perceptions of the IST. These follow-up data were compared to the therapy outcomes reported by Cook (2011, 2013). RESULT: Therapy effects on the severity of stuttering and psychosocial impact were stable over the follow-up period of more than 10 years. Moreover, scores for psychosocial impact and severity of stuttering further decreased from the end of the IST to the long-term evaluation. The intensive time and the periodically offered follow-up treatments were described as particularly positive by the participants. CONCLUSION: Intensive stuttering therapy in childhood or adolescence can have a long-term positive effect on both internal and external stuttering symptoms.

Facebook groups for people who stutter: An extension of and supplement to in-person support groups.

INTRODUCTION: Online support group experiences, using social networking websites like Facebook, have shown much promise in past research unrelated to stuttering. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the utility of a Facebook-based stuttering support group that was created as an extension of and supplement to an in-person stuttering support group as a means of providing psychosocial support for people who stutter (PWS). METHOD: A qualitative approach that was inspired by ethnography was used to explore the experiences of seven participants (six participants who stutter and one participant who does not stutter) who digitally connect on a private Facebook-based stuttering support group that was created as an extension of and supplement to an already existing in-person stuttering support group. The main question posed to the participants related to describing their experiences being a member of the Facebook-based stuttering support group. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed two major themes, which included the benefits and challenges of participating in a Facebook-based stuttering support group.  Each major theme contained five subthemes. Specific results are discussed with reference to past research, as well as implications for practice and recommendations for future research. CONCLUSIONS: There are numerous benefits and challenges associated with being a member of a Facebook-based stuttering support group.  However, the overall utility of a Facebook-based stuttering support group, used in tandem with an in-person stuttering support experience, seems to provide members with a useful and impactful way to gain psychosocial support from other PWS.