Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this review article is to provide an overview of the current evidence base for the behavioral management of stuttering and associated social anxiety. Method: We overview recent research about stuttering and social anxiety in the context of contemporary cognitive models of social anxiety disorder. That emerging evidence for self-focused attention and safety behavior use with those who stutter is considered in relation to current treatment approaches for stuttering: speech restructuring and social anxiety management. Results: The emerging information about social anxiety and stuttering suggests a conflict between the two clinical approaches. For those clients who wish to control their stuttering and where speech restructuring is deemed the most suitable approach, it is possible that speech restructuring may (a) induce or increase self-focused attention, (b) promote the use of safety behaviors, and (c) become a safety behavior itself. This conflict needs to be explored further within clinical and research contexts. Conclusions: The issues raised in this review article are complex. It appears that evidence-based speech treatment procedures are in conflict with current bestpractice treatment procedures that deal with social anxiety. In this review article, we propose directions for future research to inform the development of improved treatments for those who stutter and recommendations for interim clinical management of stuttering.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 59-74 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2021 |
Funding
This research was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council Program Grant 1132370. The authors would like to acknowledge Damien Liu-Brennan for his scientific copyediting contribution to this publication.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language
- Speech and Hearing