Evaluating the Efficacy of Telepractice Speech Therapy for an Adult Who Covertly Stutters

Date

8-12-2020 9:20 AM

Abstract

The aim of this case study is to evaluate the efficacy of telepractice speech therapy sessions using a holistic therapeutic approach (e.g. stuttering modification, avoidance reduction, acceptance and commitment therapy) to reduce avoidance of stuttering and increase positive self-image as a communicator for an adult who covertly stutters as compared to baseline. The current study utilizes an ABM single-subject experimental design (SSED) format (baseline [A], intervention [B] and maintenance [M]). Measures of the participant’s baseline attitudes toward their stutter were taken using the Overall Assessment of the Speaker’s Experience of Stuttering - Adult Version (OASES-A) and percent of words stuttered (%WS) prior to the start of intervention. The participant received bi-weekly speech therapy sessions over the course of 9 weeks, including both a 1-hour individual therapy session and a 1-hour group therapy session. During the intervention phase, weekly data points of frequency of stuttering (%WS out of a 300- word conversational sample) and self-report of avoidance using a Likert scale were collected. The intervention phase has been completed and the participant is currently in the maintenance phase. Data collection and analysis will be completed by mid-July. Data will be analyzed via visual inspection to observe any possible effects of intervention.

Biographies

Patrizha Schroth
Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences
Patrizha Schroth is an undergraduate student at Portland State University majoring in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She is performing research under Dr. Megann McGill through the PSU Stuttering Lab and is expected to complete her research in Summer 2020. She has been a member of the stuttering lab since 2017, coding speech samples for individuals who stutter who are receiving speech therapy services via telepractice through PSU. She has completed a directed clinical assistantship for the aphasia support group through the Adult Language Clinic, and has also interned for the Oregon Health Authority as a newborn hearing screener. Her research interests include using telepractice to increase accessibility to speech therapy services, stuttering and avoidance, and neurogenic communication disorders. She will begin the master’s program for Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) at PSU in the Fall of 2020, aspiring to become a medical SLP and eventually acquire her PhD to perform further research on communication disorders.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Megann McGill
Megann McGill, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences at Portland State University. Her research lab (the PSU Stuttering Lab) explores telepractice: a rapidly growing clinical approach within healthcare that allows for the provision of services over the Internet. Her work focuses on the efficacy and efficiency of using telepractice for speech-language therapy with children and adults who stutter. Specifically, she is interested in determining if telepractice services are valid and reliable means of conducting initial evaluations and ongoing therapy for clients who stutter.

Disciplines

Speech and Hearing Science

Rights

© Copyright the author(s)

IN COPYRIGHT:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DISCLAIMER:
The purpose of this statement is to help the public understand how this Item may be used. When there is a (non-standard) License or contract that governs re-use of the associated Item, this statement only summarizes the effects of some of its terms. It is not a License, and should not be used to license your Work. To license your own Work, use a License offered at https://creativecommons.org/

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33522

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Aug 12th, 9:20 AM

Evaluating the Efficacy of Telepractice Speech Therapy for an Adult Who Covertly Stutters

The aim of this case study is to evaluate the efficacy of telepractice speech therapy sessions using a holistic therapeutic approach (e.g. stuttering modification, avoidance reduction, acceptance and commitment therapy) to reduce avoidance of stuttering and increase positive self-image as a communicator for an adult who covertly stutters as compared to baseline. The current study utilizes an ABM single-subject experimental design (SSED) format (baseline [A], intervention [B] and maintenance [M]). Measures of the participant’s baseline attitudes toward their stutter were taken using the Overall Assessment of the Speaker’s Experience of Stuttering - Adult Version (OASES-A) and percent of words stuttered (%WS) prior to the start of intervention. The participant received bi-weekly speech therapy sessions over the course of 9 weeks, including both a 1-hour individual therapy session and a 1-hour group therapy session. During the intervention phase, weekly data points of frequency of stuttering (%WS out of a 300- word conversational sample) and self-report of avoidance using a Likert scale were collected. The intervention phase has been completed and the participant is currently in the maintenance phase. Data collection and analysis will be completed by mid-July. Data will be analyzed via visual inspection to observe any possible effects of intervention.