Okul Çağı Kekemeliği Olan Çocuklar İçin Kapsamlı ve Yoğunlaştırılmış Grup Terapisi: Ön Çalışma

Abstract

Objective: This was a preliminary study to investigate a comprehensive and intensive group therapy (CIGT) for school-aged children who stutter and examine the differences in cognitive, affective, linguistic, and social components of stuttering as well as speech behavior in Türkiye. Material and Methods: Participants were 6 children, 2 girls and 4 boys (age range 8-12 years), who attended ten days of CIGT. Primary outcome measures were the Turkish version of the Cognitive, Affective, Linguistic, Motor, and Social Rating Scale for School Children who Stutter, the percentage of syllables stuttered, and the Turkish version of the 4th edition of the Stuttering Severity Instrument. Secondary outcome measures were parents' ratings of stuttering severity and speech naturalness. Data were gathered 1 month prior to therapy, on the first and last day of the therapy, 1 month following the therapy, and 3 months after the therapy. This study was conducted at the Speech & Language Therapy Department of Hacettepe University in Ankara, Türkiye. Results: Group mean reduction of stuttering frequency from the first day to the last day of the therapy was 67%, and from the first day of the therapy to the third month after the therapy was 82%. Parents' ratings of stuttering severity confirmed these results. Participants' cognitive, affective and social scores were reduced to 1. Conclusion: Results support that the CIGT can result in an increase in children's common knowledge, understanding, and awareness of stuttering and positive changes in fluent speech production in school-aged children who stutter in Türkiye.