Recent Research Influences on Stuttering Intervention
Hi, My name is Alex Mobley, and I’m a second-year speech-language pathology graduate student as well as the sister of an adult who stutters. What recent research findings have most influenced your clinical decision-making for stuttering intervention?
Hi Alex, welcome to the ISAD online conference! Such a great question. There are several research papers that have influenced me clinically by people such as Chris Constantino, Naomi Rogers, Hope Gerlach-Houck, Vivian Sisskin, Kristel Kubart. Aside from the research, I’ve loved reading books such as ‘Stammering Pride and Prejudice’ (Campbell, Constantino, Simpson) and Voice Unearthed (D Lenz Holte). My close connections with the stuttering community always will continue to influence me. Nic
Hello Alex, Nic mentioned several of my favorite authors too, and I would add Patricia Zebrowski’s work if you’re working with teenagers who stutter, Michael Azios on topics related to counseling practices, and Michael Boyle and Derek Daniels on stigma. “Understanding the Speaker’s Experience of Stuttering Can Improve Stuttering Therapy” is also an excellent article by Tichenor, Herring, and Yaruss (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35757374/).
Beyond research though, I believe learning from people who stutter themselves is extremely important, so I recommend reading books/memoirs by people who stutter, reading their blogs, listening to their podcasts, etc. There are lots of amazing options out there! – Ana Paula Mumy
Hi Alex!!
Apart from the authors and books already mentioned by my amazing colleagues, learning about stuttering-affirmative therapy has had a profound impact on how I view and approach intervention. This perspective helped me understand that we can absolutely work on stuttering, but not from a place of rejection or the belief that fluency is the only acceptable goal. Instead, the focus shifts toward helping individuals find a sense of calm and confidence in their experience of stuttering, embracing it as a valid part of their identity. It’s about recognizing the ups and downs that come with stuttering and supporting people in navigating those fluctuations with greater self-awareness and resilience. Another important area is self-compassion, which includes encouraging individuals to treat themselves with kindness, patience, and understanding, especially during challenging moments. Rather than framing stuttering as something to overcome or hide, this approach promotes acceptance, empowerment, and the freedom to communicate authentically, and I love it!
Hi Alex!
There are several important studies related to stuttering therapy for adults who stutter, but I will highlight just a few. I greatly admire the work of Amy Connery at Trinity College Dublin. In 2024, Quinn and Connery published the article “Consensus on the Components of Therapeutic Alliance in Stuttering Intervention: An e-Delphi Study with Speech and Language Therapists.” According to the authors, the therapeutic alliance is identified as a crucial component of stuttering interventions, which I strongly support.
Additionally, there is another study I find useful, which is based on input from adults who stutter about what they consider essential in managing stuttering. Published in 2019 and authored by Neumann, K., Euler, H. A., Zens, R., Piskernik, B., Packman, A., St. Louis, K. O., and Finn, P., this study underscores the idea that various strategies and approaches can benefit different individuals. This emphasizes the need for therapists to listen carefully to each person and base our collaboration on individual preferences, needs, and contexts. Being flexible and focusing on individual orientations are therefore crucial skills when working with people who stutter.
All the best wishes from
Hilda