Discussion of “Training Students to Work with Stutterers” and “Training the Professional”

Academic and Clinical Preparation and Practices of School Speech-Language Pathologists With People Who Stutter

One-hundred-fifty-seven Indiana school speech-language pathologists responded to a survey regarding their educational and clinical preparation and their current clinical practices with people who stutter. Respondents described and evaluated the quantity and quality of their academic coursework and clinical experiences, as well as their current clinical procedures for diagnosing and treating stuttering. Speech-language pathologists also estimated their clinical competence with their clients who stutter at two junctures in their careers: (a) following completion of academic/clinical training, and (b) currently.

Respondents reported receiving insufficient academic and clinical preparation to work with people who stutter. In addition, nearly half of those surveyed reported that their current clinical skills are inadequate for managing stuttering. Findings are interpreted as confirming and extending the growing body of literature that documents the need for the improvement and expansion of educational and clinical opportunities in stuttering for speech-language pathologists in training and those in professional practice.