Assessment of stuttering

Question 0

What do you need to know from a speech sample?

Answer 0

Calculations:
Syllables per minute = number of syllables/seconds x 60
% syllables stuttered = stuttered syllables/total syllables x 100

Severity - core behaviours

Question 1

What is involved in the assessment of stuttering?

Answer 1

1. Questionnaire - case history
2. Modified Erikson Scale (s-24)
3. 5-10 minute conversation sample: analyse according to set parameters, standardised stuttering severity instrument
4. Reading sample
5. Beyond clinic measures: Locus of control, self-rating of reactions to situations, hierarchy of difficult situations, overall assessment of speaker’s experience of stuttering (OASES)
6. Speech-language-voice-pragmatic assessment if indicated.

Question 2

What is communication rate vs articulation rate?

Answer 2

Communication rate is SPM with stutters included and articulation rate is SPM without stutters.

During the stutter the communication rate is less than the articulation rate.

Question 3

What is the locus of control?

Answer 3

The degree to which a person perceives a causal relationship between their own behaviour and consequences.

Internal control: feels in control of their environment. Able to affect outcomes or events through their own actions or efforts.

External control: somebody who feels at mercy of fate, luck or actions of powerful others in their environment. Unable to exert influence over their destiny.

Question 4

What is the OASES?

Answer 4

A measure of the effect of stuttering on a person’s life.
7 years - 18+
Responses totalled into impact scores and impact ratings for 4 sections:
General information
Your reactions to stuttering
Communication in daily situations.
Quality of life

Leads to overall score and severity.

Question 5

What are the features and benefits of the OASES?

Answer 5

Quick and easy self- assessment.
Enables insight beyond numerical stuttering severity rating.
Helps understanding the complexity of a stuttering condition.
Allows you to assess a client’s perceptions about stuttering, reactions and difficulties.
Promotes self-awareness on how stuttering affects life, school, work, home and social settings.

Question 6

What is the SSI-4?

Answer 6

Provides a reliable measure of stuttering severity.
Quantifies stuttering and evaluates the effectiveness of therapy.
2;10 t0 adults.
Normative data.

Speaking samples are evaluated according to:
Frequency
Duration
Physical concomitants 
Naturalness of speech

Question 7

What may you also need to assess?

Answer 7

General language testing - all modalities.
Oromotor examination.
Articulation assessment/probing.
DDK exercised.
Reading multisyllabic words.
Word building sequences with different stress patterns.
Coping rhythms.
Pragmatic skills.