Brief application of simplified habit reversal to treat stuttering in children.
We evaluated a brief therapy protocol involving the simplified regulated breathing method as a treatment for stuttering in children. The simplified treatment included awareness training, competing response training, and social support. Treatment was implemented in a multiple baseline across subjects design for 5 boys between the ages of 5 and 11. Each child received a 1 h treatment session, and 1/2 h booster sessions as needed. Four of the 5 children reduced their stuttering to less than 3% stuttered words (the criterion for successful treatment) after one 1 h treatment session. These results were maintained for 3 of the subjects from 6 to 9 months posttreatment. Social validity measures revealed significant differences between ratings on baseline and posttreatment speech samples. Treatment acceptability and credibility measures indicated that the subjects' guardians found the simplified regulated breathing method a reasonable treatment for stuttering in children.
Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105-5075, USA.
A J
AJ
Elliott
R G
RG
Miltenberger
J
J
Rapp
E S
ES
Long
R
R
McDonald
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012119:Respiration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013060:Speech; D013342:Stuttering / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome