The developing face of stammering therapy in Dorset:

a group therapy approach

Emma Cooper, in collaboration with Mary Wells-West and Mary Halson, Specialist Speech and Language Therapists

Background

Stammering occurs in one per cent of adults, and children who have been stammering for more than
three years are more likely to continue to stammer into adulthood (1). Although a relatively small
percentage of adults are affected, the impact on their lives can be significant. Speech and Language
Therapists promote ways to accept, but also live more easily as a person who stammers.
The current service

Therapy in Dorset for adults who stammer has
always been one-to-one but we recognise the
benefits of group therapy for this client group.
Unlike other services which have a dedicated
service for those who stammer, we manage
these clients as part of the general busy adult
community caseload. We want to provide the
best evidence-based treatment possible,
despite the service limitations. Group therapy
has been shown to be particularly beneficial
with this client group (2).
Results so far

Prior to the group starting, the participants
completed various assessments and outcome
tools, including the Wright and Ayre Stuttering
Self-Rating Profile (3), and a functional rating
scale. We are yet to run the final follow-up
session which is when these will be completed
again, therefore formal clinical outcome
measures are yet to be collected.
Written comments and verbal feedback from
the participants about their experiences of the
group have been positive, with peer support
being a key theme to emerge.
The participants have made plans to start their
own monthly support group, which is a
welcome bi-product of the group therapy.
Having a support group may encourage more
independent maintenance in the future, and
reduce long-term reliance on the Speech and
Language Therapy service.
Hopes for the future

We hope to be able to provide this group
as part of the future service provision for
adults who stammer. It may be that we are
able to reduce the number of individual
sessions clients receive, with earlier
participation in a group. Fewer individual
sessions would save on therapists time
and therefore would be cost effective, but
without any disadvantage to the clients.
Where possible we envisage several
groups being run a year. Participants fed
back that a longer course would have
been beneficial. This is something we can
consider.

The group has been a positive and
worthwhile venture for all involved and
now developed we hope it has a place in
the developing care pathway for adults
who stammer in Dorset.
Speech and Language Therapy, Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust
Emma Cooper, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. Tel. (01202) 307686. Email: emma.cooper@dhuft.nhs.uk
The group helped with
overcoming problems and
provided social support. I
looked forward to the
sessions every week!
It has been very helpful to meet the
group and positive to talk to others
with the same problem. Much better
than one-to-one therapy...The group
has made me realise what to
concentrate on to achieve my
goals.
Useful group discussions and
feedback from othersReally
helpful sessions. Please
continue!
We are reminded in
every session that we are
not alone. We are
reminded of the things
we should consider when
dealing with stammering.
Aims

We aimed to develop a group therapy course for
those who had already received individual
therapy. The group has run over six weeks with
six two-hour evening sessions. There is a
follow-up session which will take place six
weeks after the last session of the block.
The group has revisited areas covered in
individual therapy, e.g. good communication,
identification, desensitisation, fluency-
enhancing behaviours and avoidance reduction,
but in a totally different environment. The
participants have been encouraged to develop
individual goals to move forward in what will
become their own self-directed therapy.
References

1. British Stammering Association Website [Internet]. [Cited 2014 July 1st]; Available from:
http://www.stammering.org/help-information/people-stammer/adults/basic-information-adults-who-stammer
2. Turnball, J. and Stewart, T. Dysfluency Resource Book. 2
nd
edition. Milton Keynes: Speechmark Publishing
Ltd; 2010.
3. Wright, L. and Ayre, A. Wright and Ayre Stuttering Self-Rating Profile. Bicester: Winslow Press Ltd; 2000.