Glyndon D. Riley

A component model for diagnosing and treating children who stutter

Abstract Nine components of stuttering and their distribution among 54 children who stutter are described. The components are arranged into a model that includes four neurologic components (attending disorder, auditory-processing disorder, sentence-formulation disorder, and oral-motor disorder) and five traditional components (high self-expectations, manipulative stuttering, disruptive communication environment, unrealistic parental expectations, and abnormal parental need for the child to stutter). Diagnostic and treatment usefulness of the model are discussed. Thirty-two of the children have been followed through component-based treatment and 12 mo post termination. Results indicate that treatment was successful with 27 (84%) of the 32 children. Only one child regressed during the 12 mo after treatment ended. These results suggest that treating the neurologic and traditional factors which disrupt fluency improves maintenance and carry-over.

Oral motor discoordination among children who stutter

Abstract A large body of literature describes subtle oral motor differences among people who stutter, which are not typical of other speakers. The purpose of this report was to propose that oral motor discoordination (OMD) can be assessed and treated, and that such treatment may be useful prior to targeting perceived stuttering behaviors. Oral motor coordination (correct voicing, smooth coarticulation, proper sequencing, and age appropriate rate of production of syllables) was assessed using an Oral Motor Assessment Scale. An oral motor training program was described that improved OMD 78% after 14 hours of training in nine children. Stuttering was improved 62% by the training, although it was not specifically targeted. This report proposes that improvement in OMD and reduction of stuttering may be reciprocal (i.e., treatment of one may produce improvement in the other as a byproduct). It may be that OMD is among the physiologic features that can cause post-treatment fluency to be “tenuous.” Its inclusion in treatment programs may improve maintenance and naturalness of fluency.

Physician's screening procedure for children who may stutter

Abstract The purpose of this study was to devise a screening protocol that was data based and consistent with commonly accepted caseload selection criteria. Eighty children who were accepted for treatment were compared with 31 children who were monitored for 2 years and who did not need treatment. Disfluency types, frequency of abnormal disfluencies, reactions of child and listeners, and reported number of months since onset are suggested for use by the physician as referral criteria.

Evaluating Stuttering Problems In Children

This article describes an evaluation approach which deals with the problems of predicting which young stutterers are likely to outgrow their problem without treatment. Procedures are also described to evaluate the communication environment, the childs attitude, and any concomitant speech and language disorders. Treatment approaches implied by this evaluation process are noted.

A normative study of the MSDTA given by imitation

This study presents normative data for the McDonald Screening Deep Test of Articulation (MSDTA) administered by imitation. The data were collected from 223 preschool children ranging from 24 months to 59 months of age. These norms are useful for rapid screening purposes. In addition, they provide input on the coarticulatory aspects of phonology, which may become part of the caseload selection and treatment processes.