None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this clinical trial is to establish whether stuttering and speech sound disorder can be treated simultaneously. It is estimated that between 30-40% of children who stutter also have a speech sound disorder. Both disorders are known to have effects that may continue into the child's school years and beyond if not treated early. Currently there are a number of effective interventions that aim to treat fluency and speech sound disorders when they present in isolation. A small number of participants will be recruited to carry out a combined stuttering/speech sound disorder treatment program to establish safety and correct clinical protocols.
Interventions
Dual delivery of the Lidcombe Program for stuttering and also individualized speech sound disorder based on interventions that are evidence-based for this caseload. The Lidcombe Program is delivered in 2 stages, with stage 1 considered the active treatment stage and stage 2 being the maintenance/monitoring stage. Currently approximately 90% of children complete stage 1 of the Lidcombe Program in around 20 weeks, although this is for children who stutter in isolation. It is not known how long
Dual delivery of the Lidcombe Program for stuttering and also individualized speech sound disorder based on interventions that are evidence-based for this caseload. The Lidcombe Program is delivered in 2 stages, with stage 1 considered the active treatment stage and stage 2 being the maintenance/monitoring stage. Currently approximately 90% of children complete stage 1 of the Lidcombe Program in around 20 weeks, although this is for children who stutter in isolation. It is not known how long children with concomitant speech sound disorder will take to respond to the Lidcombe Program. Similarly, there are many evidence-based forms of speech sound disorder intervention types. During this trial, the intervention chosen will be based on the individual child's goals and needs, in line with surrounding evidence. As such it is impossible to predict treatment time in this instance. Much of the research looks at treating these two co-occurring disorders in isolation. This experimental phase I trial aims to look at whether the two disorders can be treated at the same time, using evidence-based approaches to therapy. The research team will treat participants for up to 9 months if required. If participants have not reached the end of stage 1 of the Lidcombe Program by 22 weeks, treatment will revert to delivering the Lidcombe Program alone, as is standard protocol. If after 9 months, participants require ongoing intervention (i.e. stage 2 of the Lidcombe Program or treatment for residual speech sound error), referrals will be made for participants to access this treatment via the appropriate service provider(s).
Sponsors
Dr Sally Hewat
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
42 Months to 72 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Diagnosis of stuttering obtained by consensus between 2 speech pathologists or between 1 speech pathologist and caregiver Diagnosis of speech sound disorder determined by the presence of either a) two or more age-inappropriate phonological processes or; b) one atypical phonological process Participants and caregivers will have a functional command and understanding of the English language Hearing levels reported within normal limits Pass a receptive and expressive language screener. If screener not passed, then receptive and expressive language abilities rated at no greater than mildly delayed on subsequently administered standardised assessment Oral motor structure and function must be measured and assessed as being within normal limits Speech sound errors must be phonological in nature (i.e. not suspected childhood apraxia of speech, lateral lisps etc. therefore child must be stimulable in at least 1 context for the sounds in error) Stuttering onset reportedly at least six months prior to recruitment
Exclusion criteria
Excluded if child has received treatment for either the stuttering or the speech sound disorder within 12 months prior to recruitment
Outcome results
None listed