Self-Disclosure Experiences of Adults Who Stutter: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Self-Perceived Communication Competence of Adults Who Stutter Following Communication-Centered Treatment

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess self-perceived communication competence of adults who stutter following participation in a non-ableist treatment for which one of the core components focuses on communication - with no direct or indirect goals designed to reduce or modify stuttered speech.

METHOD

Thirty-three adults who stutter completed the Self-Perceived Communication Competence scale (McCroskey & McCroskey, 1988) pre- and posttreatment.

RESULTS

Findings indicate significant gains in self-perceived communication competence posttreatment. Pre- to posttreatment changes in stuttering did not predict posttreatment gains in self-perceived communication competence.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that improvement in communication can be achieved independent of improvement in fluency, lending further support to the notion that stuttering and communication competence are distinct constructs.

Clinical and Psychosocial Predictors of Post-Event Processing in Adults Who Stutter

PURPOSE

Post-event processing, defined by self-critical rumination following a stressful communication event, is significantly associated with reduced quality of life. However, despite its relevance to the stuttering experience, to date, only a few studies have investigated post-event processing among adults who stutter, and no study has identified clinical and psychosocial predictors of post-event processing. The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of clinical markers of stuttering and psychosocial variables to post-event processing.

METHOD

Adults who stutter (N = 96) participated in two virtual sessions. After completing the Trier Social Stress Test, a standardized social stress task in Session 1, participants completed measures of post-event processing, clinical markers of stuttering (i.e., the experience of stuttering, self- and observer-rated stuttering severity), and psychosocial characteristics (i.e., self-perceived performance, self-esteem, social anxiety, trait, and state self-compassion) in Session 2.

RESULTS

Hierarchical linear regression models indicated that a more negative experience of stuttering, higher self-rated stuttering severity, and greater social anxiety predicted more post-event processing. Greater self-perceived performance and state self-compassion predicted less rumination. Observer-rated severity, self-esteem, and trait self-compassion were not significantly associated with post-event processing behavior.

CONCLUSION

Findings reveal clinical and psychosocial variables to consider in the assessment and mitigation of post-event processing behavior in adults who stutter, and to bolster resiliency to social stress.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24223213.

Self-perceived outcomes of informative and apologetic self-disclosure: A mixed methods study

PURPOSE

Self-disclosure statements that are informative, rather than apologetic, have been demonstrated to improve listener perceptions of adults who stutter (Byrd et al., 2017). The purpose of the present study is to investigate the benefits of self-disclosure from the perspective of the speaker and to determine whether self-disclosure statement type is associated with self-perceived outcomes of use.

METHOD

A total of 156 adults who stutter completed a survey adapted from a previous study investigating affective, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes of voluntary stuttering. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine if there was a significant relationship between self-disclosure statement type and self-reported outcomes. Additionally, responses to two open-ended questions relating to timing of self-disclosure and self-disclosure experiences in general were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Self-disclosure was perceived as beneficial in at least one context by 96.8 % of respondents. Respondents who used an informative self-disclosure statement were more likely to agree that self-disclosure increased confidence and were less likely to report attempting to conceal or avoid stuttering than respondents who used an apologetic self-disclosure statement. Themes relating to additional aspects of self-disclosure experiences included personalized use, social connection, acceptance of stuttering, challenging cognitive distortions, communication is easier, self-empowerment, humor, voluntary stuttering, and vulnerability to prejudice.

CONCLUSION

Similar to studies investigating the influence of self-disclosure on listener perceptions, informative self-disclosure is associated with greater self-perceived benefits than apologetic self-disclosure for adults who stutter.

Impact of self-disclosure and communication competence on perceived listener distraction

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distraction reported by unfamiliar adults when listening to a speaker who stutters, and whether listener distraction is influenced by two factors: self-disclosure and communication competence.

METHOD

Two hundred seventy-five adults watched a video vignette and were asked to rate their level of distraction when observing an adult Latinx male producing stuttered speech. Each participant watched one of six randomized videos of the same speaker sharing the same content systematically manipulated by (a) presence or absence of 15% stuttering, (b) presence or absence of self-disclosure, and (c) high or low communication competence.

RESULTS

Listener distraction was higher when rating speakers with low communication competence, regardless of whether stuttering or self-disclosure were heard. Videos wherein the speaker was fluent were rated as significantly less distracting, but only in the context of high communication competence. For videos wherein the speaker stuttered, listeners reported significantly less distraction when the speaker demonstrated high communication competence and self-disclosed.

FINDINGS

These findings suggest that for persons who stutter, high communication competence and disclosing that they stutter will yield maximum reduction in listener distraction.

Fostering Positive Stuttering Identities Using Stutter-Affirming Therapy

PURPOSE

School-age children and adolescents frequently have difficulty developing positive identities around their stuttering. Many students experience both physical and social consequences from stuttering. The great lengths that speakers go to try to hide their stuttering and to speak fluently increase their difficulty. As long as school-age children who stutter try to identify as fluent speakers, they will have difficulty lessening the negative impact of stuttering on their lives. Fortunately, many people who stutter also report positive stuttering experiences. Speech-language pathologists can use these positive experiences to help school-age children grow more comfortable with stuttering. They can also help school-age children reduce some of the speaking effort and social stigma that leads them to try to conceal their stuttering in the first place. To accomplish both these goals, I propose a stutter-affirming therapy.

METHOD

This clinical focus article summarizes previous research about identity development in stuttering. I discuss a therapy approach I call stutter-affirming therapy. In elucidating this approach, I discuss practical ways that speech-language pathologists can use to help school-age children develop positive stuttering identities through easier speaking and stuttering. I ground these examples in a case study of a 12-year-old boy who stutters.

DISCUSSION

stutter-affirming therapy focuses on conditioning the speaker's reaction to stuttering in ways that move toward and embrace stuttering (stutterphilic reactions) rather than in ways that move away from and reject stuttering (stutterphobic reactions). Speech-language pathologists can help school-age children who stutter foster positive stuttering identities using the three priorities of stutter-affirming therapy. First, reject fluency by reducing stutterphobic and increasing stutterphilic reactions to stuttering. Second, value stuttering by discovering what speakers gain from it. Third, create an environment in which it is easier to stutter through education, advocacy, disclosure, and voluntary stuttering.