Einer Boberg

An investigation of interclinic agreement in the identification of fluent and stuttered syllables

Abstract Experienced clinicians in several treatment centers were provided with audio-recorded speech samples from eight stutterers and two normal speakers. They were asked to 1) count the total number of syllables in each sample, 2) count the number of stuttered syllables in each sample, and 3) rate each speaker on a seven-point stuttering severity scale. There were substantial interclinic discrepancies in all three measures. The implications of these results are discussed, and suggestions to improve interclinic agreement are provided.

The effect of an intensive behavioral program on the distribution of EEG alpha power in stutterers during the processing of verbal and visuospatial information

Abstract Prior to an intensive behavioral treatment program, stutterers showed greater than normal activation of the posterior frontal region of the right hemisphere during the performance of speech tasks. After treatment they showed increases in proportional alpha for most regions of the two cerebral hemispheres, but most markedly for the posterior frontal region of the right hemisphere for both verbal and nonverbal tasks. This increase resulted in a reversal of the previous R/L interhemispheric alpha relationships with the left posterior frontal region showing greater activation during speech after treatment. The relationship of this finding to previous findings is briefly discussed and an hypothesis of decreased inhibitory control of the right hemisphere at the posterior frontal region by the left hemisphere during speech in stutterers is proposed and briefly expounded.

Maintenance of fluency: A review

Abstract Three purposes for writing this paper are: to review specific work done on the maintenance of fluency in the post-treatment environment, to abstract and discuss pertinent issues in maintenance, and to present several speculative positions which might account for the relapse phenomenon and stimulate further research.

Results of intensive stuttering therapy with adults who clutter and stutter

The purpose of this investigation was to report on the identification of adult clients who clutter and stutter, evaluate their response to a stuttering therapy program, and determine if speech measures typically used in evaluating therapy outcome are sufficiently sensitive indicators of change for clients who clutter and stutter. Results suggest that cluttering-stuttering subjects had a very positive response to stuttering therapy, but greater improvements may have been achieved with additional therapy time and expanded therapy goals. Results also indicate that pretreatment and posttreatment measures of articulatory rate may be a more sensitive measure of change for cluttering-stuttering clients.