Speech skill learning of persons who stutter and fluent speakers under single and dual task conditions

Abstract

Two studies compared the accuracy and efficiency of initiating oral reading of nonsense syllables by persons who stutter (PWS) and fluent speakers (PNS) over practise. Findings of Study One, comparing 12 PWS and 12 PNS, replicated previous findings of slow speech sequence initiation over practise by PWS relative to PNS. In Study Two, nine PWS and eight PNS practised reading syllable sequences under single, and then dual task conditions in which a colour recognition distracter task was introduced. The speech sequences of PWS were initiated significantly slower than those of PNS. Significant Group×Condition interactions for reaction time and accuracy were interpreted to suggest that PNS, but not PWS, demonstrated the ability to switch between an attention‐demanding movement strategy under dual task conditions and a relatively automatic (little attention required) movement strategy after practise under single task conditions.