Research and misinformation
Hello, I am a SLP graduate student in California and I had a question for researchers. With so many sources of information online available, are there particular outlets that you have found to spread misinformation regarding stuttering or stuttering treatment? For practicing clinicians involved in research, are there common resources parents come to you with that may be misleading and how did you approach providing evidence-based education?
Hello! This is an excellent question. So, by definition, evidence-based practice in the speech-language pathology world, no matter what we are treating, comes from a peer-reviewed source such as a text book or a peer reviewed journal in regards to clinical practice. There is the Journal of Fluency Disorders to start, but also some excellent studies in the ASHA journals that you will find. Make sure to read the overt and covert studies.. never discount the covert aspects of stuttering. 🙂 With that being said, there are excellent and reliable resources you can provide in the clinic to individuals who stutter like the Stuttering Foundation of America website (that provides useful handouts, media and video tools for clinicians), the National Stuttering Foundation website to find support groups, Friends, Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY), online groups like Stutter Social for adults, etc… (I am listing places/resources all in the USA since you stated you are from California.)
Regarding misinformation…. there are some websites and individuals that claim to provide a “cure” for people who stutter. I encourage you to always remember what the nature of stuttering is in finding your resources. If what the parent has found online contradicts what you have learned to be the nature of stuttering, then it is misinformation (as, for example, at this time there is not a direct known “cure” for stuttering.) Now with that, stuttering is an individualized experience for everyone.. and individuals who stutter and parents at times work very hard researching for information. So remember, it is not the parents or PWS fault that they found information online that is available out there that we know is false…. there is false information about everything online. So, as a future clinician I encourage you to be gentle in your education or in “sharing the love and knowledge of stuttering” so to speak, don’t discount their efforts, but remember they aren’t an SLP and they are perhaps new at this too. But we do want to try to stop the spread of misinformation that is harming people who stutter, parents, families, etc… and there is information out there that surely still is. I hope that this answer helps you, and continue to work hard in your studies.