title: Testing orofacial abilities of children who stutter: the Movement, Articulation, Mandibular and Sensory awareness (MAMS) assessment procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to introduce a new assessment designed to measure the orofacial abilities of children who stutter (CWS), the Movement, Articulation, Mandibular and Sensory Awareness (MAMS) Orofacial Assessment. The new instrument was developed and validated to measure orofacial abilities in a comprehensive manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 43 CWS (mean age 13.10 years, S.D. 2.10 years) and a control group of 32 fluent children (mean age 13.4 years, S.D. 2.6 years) were tested with the new tool. It was hypothesized, that (a) the MAMS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure orofacial abilities in CWS, (b) fluent children have better orofacial abilities than CWS and (c) that the therapy outcome of CWS depend on their orofacial abilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MAMS Orofacial Assessment proved to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess orofacial abilities. Compared with their fluent peers, CWS had significantly worse orofacial abilities. CWS with better orofacial abilities had a better prognosis for therapy outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new instrument is a reliable and valid tool to measure orofacial abilities and MAMS distinguishes CWS and controls. Orofacial abilities are one set of factors that influence therapy outcome for CWS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The reader will get an overview over of the literature on orofacial abilities in people who stutter and will learn about and be able to (1) describe different characteristics of orofacial abilities, (2) use the MAMS Orofacial Assessment in the diagnostic process for CWS and for research purposes, and (3) interpret the results of the MAMS to use them for therapy planning.
authors: Division of Psychology and Language Science, University College London, Gower St., London WC1E 6BT, England, United Kingdom. susanne.cook@me.com
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Cook
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Rieger
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Donlan
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Howell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013342:Stuttering / Q000503:physiopathology*