Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder with marked ingressive speech: a prospective case study

Abstract

This prospective case study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a comprehensive treatment approach employed for a 14-year-old boy, EK, with Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (COFD), particularly manifested by excessive pulmonic ingressive speech and phonation as well as profound secondary behaviors that resemble those attested in individuals with Tic Syndrome (TS). A single-case, experimental-longitudinal design was used, with a hypothesis adopting a therapeutic approach, which integrated strategies used to manage several behaviors in TS, would reduce dysfluency and associated secondary behaviors and that gains would be maintained. Perceptual and instrumental data were obtained. The findings offered evidence for the effectiveness of the therapeutic program, which could be attributed to the possible similarities in the underlying pathogenesis of stuttering and TS – glitches in the neurophysiological system that give rise or contribute to the two disorders. The results further back up comprehensive assessment and therapeutic approach facilitating better understanding and management of complex human behaviors like stuttering.