Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Degree Granting Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Major Professor

Nathan Maxfield, Ph.D., CCC-SLP.

Committee Member

Carolyn Ford, ED.D., CCC-SLP

Committee Member

Charlotte Purcell, SLPD, CCC-SLP

Keywords

Stuttering, Fluency, Baseline, Primary, Superfluous, Verbal, Nonverbal, USF-PATS

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in frequency stuttering behaviors, speech rate, and feelings/attitudes following the University of South Florida Program for Advanced Treatment of Stuttering (USF-PATS), a hybrid stuttering modification/fluency shaping program intended for teenagers and adults who stutter moderately to very severely.

Method: Baseline and post-treatment speech samples for participants (N = 3) were analyzed for speech rate and presence of stuttering behaviors (repeated movements, fixed postures, and superfluous behaviors) across conditions (monologue and reading). An abbreviated thematic analysis was completed to analyze feelings/attitudes post-treatment.

Results: Results revealed a decrease to zero and near-zero for frequency of repeated movements, fixed postures, and superfluous behaviors. Speech rate increased and/or normalized for the majority of participants. The abbreviated thematic analysis revealed positive feelings/attitudes post-treatment.

Conclusion: Implementation of a hybrid stuttering modification/fluency shaping program (USF- PATS) was effective in decreasing the frequency of various stuttering behaviors for all participants, increasing and/or normalizing speech rate for the majority of participants, and improving feelings/attitudes pertaining to speech. A hybrid approach was overall efficacious for the participants (N = 3) and their specific stuttering profiles.

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