Brief report: treating stuttering in an adult with autism spectrum disorder.
Stuttering and autism can co-occur and when they do it presents a significant communication challenge. This study examined the effectiveness of a modified version of the fluency rules program (FRP; Runyan and Runyan, Stuttering and related disorders of fluency, in 2007) to reduce stuttering frequency in a man with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The participant's percentage of stuttered words (%SW) was calculated during conversational interactions with multiple conversation partners both within and outside of the clinic treatment sessions. Visual inspection methods revealed a reduction in %SW from an average of 14.5 %SW during baseline to 2.07 %SW during the withdrawal phase. The mean baseline reduction in %SW from baseline to the second treatment phase was 91.8 %. The FRP holds promise for reducing %SW in persons with ASD who stutter.
Department of Speech and Hearing Science, George Washington University, 2115 G st NW Suite 201, Washington, DC 20052, USA. brundage@gwu.edu
Shelley B
SB
Brundage
Cory J
CJ
Whelan
Cathleen M
CM
Burgess
D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013342:Stuttering / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult