The NSA surveyed 1,235 people about stuttering and therapy

photo: mararie

In May 2009, the National Stuttering Association (NSA) conducted a survey to gather information about stuttering. They received responses from 1,235 people, including 686 adults and 31 teens who stutter.The survey showed some very positive things including:

• Changing one’s attitude toward speaking and stuttering was the most successful therapy approach for both children and adults.
• One third of the adult and teen respondents had had therapy from a Board-Recognized Specialist in Fluency Disorders (BRS-FD). Those who worked with a specialist were more likely to have had a successful therapy experience and were more likely to have attended a stuttering support group.
• In general, parents reported more successful speech therapy from university speech clinics, private-practice clinicians and intensive programs than from school speech therapy.
• Children who work with a BRS-FD also are significantly less likely to avoid speaking situations, significantly less likely to find that stuttering interferes with social and family life, significantly less likely to be embarrassed about stuttering, and are more likely to have had a successful therapy experience.

The survey collected some great information that can help you when making decisions about stuttering therapy. You can download the full report from the NSA.Thanks to the NSA for their diligent work in supporting and learning about people who stutter!