title: Treating preschool children who stutter: description and preliminary evaluation of a family-focused treatment approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to present a detailed description of a family-focused treatment for preschool children who stutter that addresses communication behaviors and attitudinal reactions that children and their parents may exhibit in reaction to stuttering, as well as a preliminary evaluation of the outcomes of that treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved assessment of the children's speech fluency and a client satisfaction questionnaire that sought parents' opinions about which aspects of the treatment were beneficial. Participants were 17 children who stutter, ages 31 to 62 months, and their families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses to the questionnaire indicated that treatment helped families learn about stuttering and about strategies that facilitate children's fluency. Evaluation of the children's fluency revealed that all participants achieved improved fluency at the conclusion of treatment and at long-term follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that this treatment approach may be useful for helping children achieve improved speech fluency, effective communication skills, and healthy communication attitudes.
authors.affiliation: Communication Science and Disorders, Stuttering Center of Western Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. jsyaruss@csd.pitt.edu
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yaruss
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hammer
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013342:Stuttering / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome