Purpose: To survey school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the state of North Carolina (NC) to examine management practices primarily related to their work with children who stutter (CWS) and to identify factors that influence their assessment approaches. Methods: Data were obtained from a statewide survey of school-based SLPs in NC. SLPs responded to questions pertaining to their experience, confidence, and approaches to management of CWS. The data analysis approach for this project was primarily descriptive, while Chi-square tests of independence were used for comparing categorical variables. Results: Four hundred forty-four SLPs, with an average of 16.1 years of experience, participated in the project. Fifty-seven percent of the sample reported being extremely confident in the screening process for CWS, 47% were extremely confident in evaluating CWS, but only 14% were extremely confident in treating CWS. The Stuttering Severity Instrument (SSI) is the most commonly utilized tool for evaluations. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents evaluate for the presence of covert behaviors, and 81% of the sample requires the presence of overt stuttering behaviors in order to recommend treatment for stuttering. Conclusions: Data from this survey revealed that many SLPs in this sample lack, to some degree, confidence in managing CWS, which has direct clinical implications. These results suggest a need to understand the reasons behind this lack of confidence and a need to continue working towards a more comprehensive understanding of the disorder in its entirety. Doing so will ultimately contribute to enhanced management practices and improved outcomes in CWS.
Purpose: To survey school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the state of North Carolina (NC) to examine management practices primarily related to their work with children who stutter (CWS) and to identify factors that influence their assessment approaches. Methods: Data were obtained from a statewide survey of school-based SLPs in NC. SLPs responded to questions pertaining to their experience, confidence, and approaches to management of CWS. The data analysis approach for this project was primarily descriptive, while Chi-square tests of independence were used for comparing categorical variables. Results: Four hundred forty-four SLPs, with an average of 16.1 years of experience, participated in the project. Fifty-seven percent of the sample reported being extremely confident in the screening process for CWS, 47% were extremely confident in evaluating CWS, but only 14% were extremely confident in treating CWS. The Stuttering Severity Instrument (SSI) is the most commonly utilized tool for evaluations. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents evaluate for the presence of covert behaviors, and 81% of the sample requires the presence of overt stuttering behaviors in order to recommend treatment for stuttering. Conclusions: Data from this survey revealed that many SLPs in this sample lack, to some degree, confidence in managing CWS, which has direct clinical implications. These results suggest a need to understand the reasons behind this lack of confidence and a need to continue working towards a more comprehensive understanding of the disorder in its entirety. Doing so will ultimately contribute to enhanced management practices and improved outcomes in CWS.
INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS
