Work

Stuttering treatment goals beyond fluency: A non-Western perspective

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • More than half of the South Korean SLPs surveyed showed openness to beyond-fluency approaches. • No respondent endorsed completely excluding fluency as a treatment goal, with most viewing fluency-focused and beyond-fluency approaches as complementary. • Only 30% of SLPs surveyed were aware of neurophysiological differences as a cause of stuttering. • SLPs who preferred fluency-focused approaches tended to view stuttering as a disorder requiring correction and saw no positive aspects to stuttering. • SLPs who favored beyond-fluency approaches tended to believe societal prejudice was the primary problem and recognized positive aspects of stuttering. Perspectives on treatment goals for stuttering have evolved in recent years. Placing less emphasis on fluency, and more on acceptance of stuttering and supporting confident communication for individuals who stutter, are often-stated current goals among Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) working in the US and Europe. However, it is unclear whether these changing perspectives are also present in non-Western cultures that have traditionally placed more emphasis on conforming to societal norms. This study investigated the range of perspectives held by South Korean SLPs regarding stuttering treatment approaches within a non-Western cultural context. Additionally, we examined variations in their beliefs about stuttering and explored how these beliefs might shape their treatment preferences. Fifty-nine SLPs residing and working in South Korea completed an online Qualtrics survey about their views on stuttering and different treatment approaches. More than half of the South Korean SLPs surveyed (54.1%) demonstrated openness toward beyond-fluency approaches, although none supported treatment that completely excluded fluency goals. While most of the South Korean SLPs surveyed accepted stuttering acceptance as part of treatment, their rationale for doing so appears to be instrumentally tied to fluency outcomes—either to facilitate fluency improvement or as an alternative approach when fluency goals cannot be met. In addition, South Korean SLPs' beliefs about stuttering seemed to influence their treatment approach choices. SLPs who preferred fluency-focused approaches typically viewed stuttering as a disorder requiring correction and saw no benefits to stuttering, whereas those favoring beyond-fluency approaches believed societal prejudice was the primary problem rather than stuttering itself and recognized the positive aspects of stuttering. South Korean SLPs, despite their openness to beyond-fluency approaches, may not yet recognize stuttering acceptance as an independently worthwhile treatment objective that has value in and of itself. Implications are discussed for adapting beyond-fluency approaches to the Korean cultural context to enhance acceptance among South Korean SLPs, children who stutter, and their families.

Source: Journal of Communication Disorders

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2025.106582

Authors: Dahye Choi, Soo-Eun Chang, Sohee Kim, Soo Bok Lee

Institutions: University of South Alabama, Ewha Womans University, University of Michigan, Woosong University

Language: English

Topic: Stuttering Research and Treatment

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,960