Effects of type of listeners and listening instructions on the attention to manner and content of a severe stutterer's speech

Abstract

Naive listeners and speech therapists reacted to the content and manner of a severe stutterer's speech on the basis of various prelistening instructions. Results indicated that the degree of the listeners' pre-experimental sophistication and the severity of stuttering were more important in determining listeners' attention than most of the pre-listening instructions. Attention of both types of listeners was paid mainly to the manner of speaking. It is suggested that Johnson's Diagnosogenic theory is not applicable to the interaction between severe stutterers and their listening environment. It is also suggested that therapy should be aimed at a reduction of nonfluencies before an attempt is made to change the listening environment.