Stuttering, Intersectionality, and Identity: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals Who Stutter

A year in stuttering research: A systematic review of global representation and sociodemographic reporting practices in English-language journals in 2020

PURPOSE

Demographic data is inconsistently reported and defined in communication sciences and disorders research, yet gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) may be critical considerations for investigations of stuttering. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the global scope and sociodemographic reporting practices among stuttering research published in the year 2020.

METHODS

Article searches were conducted in February 2023 in PsycINFO, PubMed, and ASHAWire for studies sampling participants with developmental stuttering or cluttering. Further inclusion criteria for systematic review were that articles must: (a) be published in the year 2020, (b) be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and (c) present original empirical research. Participant gender, ethnicity, and SES were extracted via a manualized coding scheme.

RESULTS

The total corpus for review included k = 92 articles, representing a total n = 7,342 participants recruited from 26 different countries. The majority of articles (k = 36) were based in the United States (US), with all other countries contributing between 1 and 5 articles each. Gender (or sex) was reported in 93.5% of included studies, ethnicity in 22.8%, and SES in 41.3%. Reporting practices did not significantly differ between US and non-US countries. Of note, only one article in 2020 recruited participants who clutter, with all others recruiting participants who stutter.

CONCLUSION

This is the first systematic review of diversity and reporting practices in the global stuttering research literature. Our results revealed a narrow global distribution of research participants, with limited reporting and analyses regarding participant ethnicity or SES. Consequently, we have identified opportunities to improve research participant transparency and to further consider sociocultural variables toward the advancement of global and inclusive stuttering research.

Lived experiences of children who stutter in their own voices

INTRODUCTION

Significant research has explored the lived experiences of adults who stutter, but less research exists regarding the lived experiences of children who stutter. The opinions and ideas of children who stutter may differ from those of adults, making it important for clinicians and researchers to obtain information directly from children who stutter. Asking children directly can lead to treatment outcomes and research questions that better align with the children's needs and values.

METHOD

Interviews with 18 children who stutter (9 girls/9 boys) ages 8-17 were sourced from the Voices of Children Who Stutter database located at Talkbank.org. Interview questions asked the children about living with a stutter, participating in stuttering support organizations (SSOs), and their perspectives on treatment. Qualitative, phenomenological analysis was performed on their answers following standardized qualitative procedures.

RESULTS

Analysis of 910 total utterances yielded 7 themes and 9 subthemes. Themes indicated that the children: (a) had significant knowledge regarding their own stuttering, (b) had opinions regarding what constituted worthwhile treatment outcomes, (c) were clear about desirable clinician characteristics for working with kids who stutter, and (d) saw the benefits of being part of a community.

CONCLUSIONS

Themes revealed that overall, children who stutter exhibit deep understanding regarding their experiences with stuttering, which clinicians can harness in person-centered goal setting. Additionally, the participants express the importance of participating in stuttering support organizations.

When adults with speech-language impairment meet law enforcement: A qualitative analysis of client experiences

INTRODUCTION

Members of law enforcement and the general public who have limited knowledge of persons with communication impairments (PCI) may misinterpret their communication behaviors. Few studies exist about communication between PCI and law enforcement, and data are lacking about the factors that may influence their interactions. Considering this need, we addressed the following research questions: How will PCI describe their attitudes and experiences related to interacting with law enforcement? What individual characteristics may influence these attitudes and experiences?

METHODS

In individual semi-structured interviews, we asked 10 adults with speech-language differences (aphasia, dysarthria, or stuttering) to describe their experiences of interacting with members of law enforcement, the communication strategies they would use when interacting with law enforcement, and what they would like members of law enforcement to know about their communication needs. In qualitative analyses, we generated themes from the data.

RESULTS

Three main themes and four subthemes were evident in participant responses. Participant emotions and communication behavior were affected in complex ways during their interactions with a person of authority in uniform. In this sample of PCI, levels of confidence about communicating with strangers were lower for participants with no visible characteristics versus those who exhibited these signs. The participants recommended communication strategies for use by members of law enforcement.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings extend the limited literature on this topic to include factors that appear to influence the attitudes and experiences of PCI during their interactions with law enforcement. In clinical application, speech-language pathologists have an important role to play in assisting clients to practice individualized communication strategies for interactions with law enforcement in various contexts. Further research is needed into the perspectives of PCI and the attitudes and experiences of law enforcement when interacting with PCI.

Major discrimination due to stuttering and its association with quality of life

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify what types of major discrimination have been experienced by adults who stutter throughout their lives, and investigate the association between the number of different types of major discrimination events experienced and quality of life.

METHODS

Measures of quality of life (Kemp Quality of Life Scale) and major discrimination (adapted Major Experiences of Discrimination Scale) were completed by 303 adults who stutter. Correlational and regression analyses were conducted with these variables.

RESULTS

A majority (56%) of the participants had experienced at least one episode of major discrimination due to stuttering during their lives. The major discrimination experiences most commonly reported included not being hired for a job and being discouraged by a teacher or advisor from pursuing certain careers or jobs because of stuttering. There was a significant negative relationship between quality of life and major discrimination. Increased major discrimination predicted lower quality of life even after taking into account demographic variables and severity of physical speech disruption.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of a negative association between major discrimination and quality of life add support to the notion that reducing societal stigma related to stuttering should be a priority of the field. Discriminatory practices of listeners constitute a social-environmental barrier to communicative participation and quality of life in people who stutter and should be addressed by professionals in the field of speech-language pathology and other stakeholders.