A BEHAVIORAL-COGNITIVE THERAPY PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WHO STUTTER - COMPUTERS AND COUNSELING

This paper evaluates the efficacy of a behavioral-cognitive treatment program for adults who stutter. The program combines a commercially available computer-assisted biofeedback program for the reduction of stuttering and a relapse management program for counseling and attitude change. Four adults who stutter, between the ages of 20 and 25 years, participated in a study with multiple baseline across individuals. The initial treatment was conducted in an intensive time block, followed by extended treatment sessions. Results show that subjects reduced their disfluencies to below 3% stuttered syllables and maintained those changes at the 6 and 12 month follow-up. Measures of attitude changes were also assessed and showed that increases in positive feelings and attitudes were maintained at follow-up.