title: Dual tasking and stuttering: from the laboratory to the clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Australian Stuttering Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metten
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Bosshardt
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eisenhuth
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brian
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Packman
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onslow
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menzies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013342:Stuttering / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult