Effect of Different Body Postures on the Severity of Stuttering in Young Adults with Developmental Stuttering.

Abdulaziz Almudhi,Shahnawaz Anwer,Hamayun Zafar,Ahmad Alghadir

doi:10.1155/2019/1817906

Abdulaziz Almudhi, Shahnawaz Anwer + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/1817906

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Abstract

Objective The current study aimed to investigate the effects of body position on the level and severity of stuttering in young adults with developmental stuttering. Methods A total of 24 subjects (male: 17; female: 7; mean age: 24.9 ± 6.2 years) with developmental stuttering participated. The participants were asked to perform oral reading and spontaneous monologue-speaking tasks in different body postures while their speech was recorded. During reading and speaking tasks, the Stuttering Severity Instrument was used to quantify the severity of stuttering. The effects of different body postures on stuttering severity, reading task, and speaking task scores were analyzed. Results Significant differences in stuttering severity, reading task, and speaking task scores were found for different body postures. Post hoc analyses revealed a significant difference in stuttering severity, reading task, and speaking task scores when subjects were sitting on a chair with no arm support compared to lying down (p<0.05). Similarly, there were significant differences for two sitting positions (sitting on a chair with no arm support vs sitting on a chair with arm support (p<0.05)). Conclusions Body postures or body segment positions that relax and facilitate the muscles of the neck and shoulders may potentially improve speech fluency in young adults with developmental stuttering.

Highlights

Stuttering is a complex communication disorder with affective, behavioral, and cognitive components [1] and psychological and social effects [2]
Some therapeutic approaches and treatment programs may allow a person with stuttering (PWS) to improve speech fluency and communicate in an effective way [9]
When subjects sat on a chair with no arms, the majority had moderate or severe stuttering severity scores

Summary

Introduction

Stuttering is a complex communication disorder with affective, behavioral, and cognitive components [1] and psychological and social effects [2]. There are different treatment approaches for children and adults who stutter since strategies that may work well for preschool children may be of little use for adults [8]. Some therapeutic approaches and treatment programs may allow a person with stuttering (PWS) to improve speech fluency and communicate in an effective way [9]. Long-term treatment studies can provide insights into treatable and refractory stuttering behaviors [13]. These types of studies can provide a deeper understanding of stuttering [14, 15]

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