Dual tasking and stuttering: From the laboratory to the clinic

Christine Metten, Hans Georg Bosshardt, Mark Jones, John Eisenhuth, Susan Block, Brenda Carey, Sue O'Brian, Ann Packman, Mark Onslow*, Ross Menzies

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the three studies in this article was to develop a way to include dual tasking in speech restructuring treatment for persons who stutter (PWS). It is thought that this may help clients maintain the benefits of treatment in the real world, where attentional resources are frequently diverted away from controlling fluency by the demands of other tasks. Method. In Part 1, 17 PWS performed a story-telling task and a computer semantic task simultaneously. Part 2 reports the incorporation of the Part 1 protocol into a handy device for use in a clinical setting (the Dual Task and Stuttering Device, DAS-D). Part 3 is a proof of concept study in which three PWS reported on their experiences of using the device during treatment. Results. In Part 1, stuttering frequency and errors on the computer task both increased under dual task conditions, indicating that the protocol would be appropriate for use in a clinical setting. All three participants in Part 3 reported positively on their experiences using the DAS-D. Conclusions. Dual tasking during treatment using the DAS-D appears to be a viable clinical procedure. Further research is required to establish effectiveness.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)933-944
Number of pages12
JournalDisability and Rehabilitation
Volume33
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

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