Psychological Approaches for the Treatment of Stuttering - Research Paper Example

The term stuttering often defies the possibility of definition because it encompasses a “wide range of activity” including noticeable characteristics and psychological implications (p.8). In the psychological context, researchers view it as a “conflict” that revolves around “self and role” and a problem relating to one’s identity rather than a speech disorder (p.8). On the other hand, the symptom-led definition focuses on the physical sides of the problem, and the WHO defines it as “disorders in the rhythm of speech” where individuals know exactly what they want to say but are unable to articulate it due to repeated prolongation or stoppage of the sound (p.9). Thus, in the general context, it can be construed that stuttering is a hindrance in a speech that an individual encounters when he or she attempts to verbally communicate to others.

This problem can be a major impediment for the affected population in the communication of their ideas, which can have serious negative ramifications on both their personal and professional lives.Stuttering, especially in younger people, can be a major impediment in communication as people with this problem usually demonstrate negative emotional response and avoid situations that necessitate them to speak, which inhibit them from “interacting with peers” or offering the answers to question in their class (Yaruss, Coleman & Quesal, 2012, p.536). Evidence emerging from various studies points to an aspect of discomfort on the part of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) to work with “children who stutter” (p.536). These studies further emphasize the need for “clearer empirical guidance” to the clinicians so that they can improve their capabilities in the treatment of stuttering (p.537). Most of the intervention strategies currently seem to lean toward counseling children to cope with the situation rather than “working directly” for eliminating the problem in its entirety (p.537). More recent researches, however, consider stuttering as a “multi-dimensional disorder” and contend that comprehensive treatment needs to be provided to the people with the problem, by addressing the need for increasing fluency as well as minimizing avoidance and boosting their self-confidence.