Ecological Intervention for Stuttering in School-Age Children: A Collaborative Approach for School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists and Mental Health Providers

Abstract

Purpose Stuttering can have a significant detrimental effect on the overall well-being of children, including anxiety, stigma, and adverse impact on the development of healthy social relationships. This clinical focus article proposes a collaborative, ecological model of stuttering intervention consistent with interprofessional practice that combines the expertise of the speech-language pathologist and school-based mental health provider to support fluency and social–emotional health for school-age children who stutter. The literature in the fields of speech pathology and mental health interventions was summarized to provide the underlying evidence base for such a collaborative approach. Conclusions While collaborative approaches are recommended as best practice for stuttering, there is scant evidence in the literature of such approaches being used. An ecological, collaborative framework will enable practitioners to help teachers, parents, and others address speech disfluency as well as the accompanying anxiety and avoidance that are pervasive in the lives of many children who stutter. Such an approach will help ensure that gains in the treatment room are carried across settings (i.e., transfer/generalization of skills) and will help children be better able to manage the challenges associated with stuttering to find success in the real world.