Evaluation and discharge criteria in therapy with adults who stutter: A survey of speech and language therapists

Abstract

Professional guidelines recommend that the psycho-social implications of living with a stutter should be assessed, and that therapy should target the emotional and cognitive aspects of living with a stutter (Taylor-Goh, ). Very little evidence exists about how speech and language therapists (SLTs) evaluate success of therapy or determine discharge criteria. The aim of the research reported here, which was part of a larger study of current SLT practice among clinicians working with adults who stutter, was to discover how SLTs (1) evaluate success in therapy and (2) determine whether to discharge a client who stutters. A postal self-administered questionnaire was distributed to SLTs (n = 342) who work in Britain with adults who stutter. A response rate of 77.5% was achieved. Content analysis was used to analyse open ended questions about evaluation and discharge criteria. Many therapists adopt practice in line with recommendations from the literature, but some SLTs do not report that they use outcome measures to evaluate their practice, or suggest that they sometimes adopt inappropriate discharge criteria. Other SLTs use novel methods to assist with evaluation.

Keywords:

• Stuttering
• stammering
• therapy
• psychosocial
• professional practice
• ICF