Download PDF
Semin Speech Lang 2021; 42(02): 117-135
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1723843
Review Article

The Communication Benefits of Participation in Camp Dream. Speak. Live.: An Extension and Replication

Courtney T. Byrd
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Katherine L. Winters
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Megan Young
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Danielle Werle
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Robyn L. Croft
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Elizabeth Hampton
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Geoffrey Coalson
2   Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
,
Andrew White
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
,
Zoi Gkalitsiou
1   Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

School-based guidelines often require that treatment focuses on minimizing or eliminating stuttered speech. The purpose of this study was to examine the benefits of explicit training in communication competencies to children who stutter without targeting stuttered speech. Thirty-seven children (ages 4–16) completed Camp Dream. Speak. Live., an intensive group treatment program which targets the psychosocial needs and communication of children who stutter. Outcome measures included the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES), the Communication Attitude Test for Preschool and Kindergarten Children Who Stutter (KiddyCAT), and the Patient Reported Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Peer Relationships Short Form (PROMIS Peer Relationships) and Parent Proxy Peer Relationships Short Form (PROMIS Parent Proxy). Pre- and posttreatment public presentations were rated on nine core verbal and nonverbal communication competencies by a neutral observer. Similar to previous studies, participants demonstrated significant improvements in communication attitudes (OASES) and perceived ability to establish peer relationships (PROMIS Peer Relationships), particularly school-aged participants (ages 7–16). Participants also demonstrated significant improvement in eight of the nine communication competencies. Findings suggest that, in addition to the psychosocial gains of programs such as Camp Dream. Speak. Live., children who stutter benefit from explicit training in communication skills, and these gains are not dependent on the presence of stuttered speech.

Keywords

stuttering - intensive treatment - attitudes - communication competence

Financial Disclosures

No relevant financial relationships exist for any of the authors.


Nonfinancial Disclosures

The first author is the Founding and Executive Director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research, the Michael and Tami Lang Stuttering Institute, the Dr. Jennifer and Emanuel Bodner Developmental Stuttering Laboratory, and the Dealey Family Foundation Stuttering Clinic. No other nonfinancial relationships exist for the authors.




Publication History

Article published online:
16 March 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 Craig A, Blumgart E, Tran Y. The impact of stuttering on the quality of life in adults who stutter. J Fluency Disord 2009; 34 (02) 61-71
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Boyle MP. Psychological characteristics and perceptions of stuttering of adults who stutter with and without support group experience. J Fluency Disord 2013; 38 (04) 368-381
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Tichenor SE, Yaruss JS. Stuttering as defined by adults who stutter. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2019; 62 (12) 4356-4369
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 O'Brian S, Jones M, Packman A, Menzies R, Onslow M. Stuttering severity and educational attainment. J Fluency Disord 2011; 36 (02) 86-92
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Blumgart E, Tran Y, Craig A. An investigation into the personal financial costs associated with stuttering. J Fluency Disord 2010; 35 (03) 203-215
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Klein JF, Hood SB. The impact of stuttering on employment opportunities and job performance. J Fluency Disord 2004; 29 (04) 255-273
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Gerlach H, Totty E, Subramanian A, Zebrowski P. Stuttering and labor market outcomes in the United States. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2018; 61 (07) 1649-1663
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Byrd CT. Targeting Communication Competence in School [Video]. United States: Stuttering Foundation of America; 2019. . Accessed January 5, 2021 at: https://thestutteringfoundation.vhx.tv/
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Bajaj A, Hodson B, Westby C. Communicative ability conceptions among children who stutter and their fluent peers: a qualitative exploration. J Fluency Disord 2005; 30 (01) 41-64
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Boey RA, Van de Heyning PH, Wuyts FL, Heylen L, Stoop R, De Bodt MS. Awareness and reactions of young stuttering children aged 2-7 years old towards their speech disfluency. J Commun Disord 2009; 42 (05) 334-346
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Guttormsen LS, Kefalianos E, Næss K-AB. Communication attitudes in children who stutter: a meta-analytic review. J Fluency Disord 2015; 46: 1-14
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Langevin M. The Peer Attitudes Toward Children who Stutter scale: reliability, known groups validity, and negativity of elementary school-age children's attitudes. J Fluency Disord 2009; 34 (02) 72-86
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Vanryckeghem M, Brutten G. The KiddyCAT: a communication attitude test for preschool and kindergarten children who stutter. San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing, Inc; 2007
    Google Scholar
  • 14 Boyle MP. Relationships between psychosocial factors and quality of life for adults who stutter. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2015; 24 (01) 1-12
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 James SE, Brumfitt SM, Cudd PA. Communicating by telephone: views of a group of people with stuttering impairment. J Fluency Disord 1999; 24: 299-317
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Kelso K. The relationship between communication apprehension, communication competence, and locus of control between stutterers and non-stutterers. In: Healey C, Peters H. eds. Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress on Fluency Disorders. Nijmegen, The Netherlands: Nijmegen University Press; 1998: 246-248
    Google Scholar
  • 17 Klompas M, Ross E. Life experiences of people who stutter, and the perceived impact of stuttering on quality of life: personal accounts of South African individuals. J Fluency Disord 2004; 29 (04) 275-305
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Bricker-Katz G, Lincoln M, Cumming S. Stuttering and work life: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. J Fluency Disord 2013; 38 (04) 342-355
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Hayhow R, Cray AM, Enderby P. Stammering and therapy views of people who stammer. J Fluency Disord 2002; 27 (01) 1-16 , quiz 16–17
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Yaruss JS, Quesal RW. Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES): documenting multiple outcomes in stuttering treatment. J Fluency Disord 2006; 31 (02) 90-115
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Plexico LW, Manning WH, Levitt H. Coping responses by adults who stutter: part I. Protecting the self and others. J Fluency Disord 2009; 34 (02) 87-107
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Beilby J, Byrnes M, Yaruss J. The impact of a stuttering disorder on Western Australian children and adolescents. Perspect Fluen Fluen Disord 2012; 22: 51-62
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Daniels DE, Gabel RM, Hughes S. Recounting the K-12 school experiences of adults who stutter: a qualitative analysis. J Fluency Disord 2012; 37 (02) 71-82
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Davis S, Howell P, Cooke F. Sociodynamic relationships between children who stutter and their non-stuttering classmates. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2002; 43 (07) 939-947
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Hugh-Jones S, Smith PK. Self-reports of short- and long-term effects of bullying on children who stammer. Br J Educ Psychol 1999; 69 (Pt 2): 141-158
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Byrd C, Chmela K, Coleman C. et al. An introduction to camps for children who stutter: what they are and how they can help. Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups 2016; 1: 55-69
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Yaruss JS, Coleman CE, Quesal RW. OASES: Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience with Stuttering. McKinney, TX: Stuttering Therapy Resources, Inc; 2016
    Google Scholar
  • 28 Dewalt DA, Thissen D, Stucky BD. et al. PROMIS Pediatric Peer Relationships Scale: development of a peer relationships item bank as part of social health measurement. Health Psychol 2013; 32 (10) 1093-1103
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Byrd C, Hampton E, McGill M, Gkalitsiou Z. Participation in Camp Dream. Speak. Live.: affective and cognitive outcomes for children who stutter. J Speech Pathol Ther 2016; 1: 3-10
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Byrd CT, Gkalitsiou Z, Werle D, Coalson GA. Exploring the effectiveness of an intensive treatment program for school-age children who stutter, Camp Dream. Speak. Live.: a follow-up study. Semin Speech Lang 2018; 39 (05) 458-468
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Erickson S, Block S. The social and communication impact of stuttering on adolescents and their families. J Fluency Disord 2013; 38 (04) 311-324
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Blood GW, Blood IM, Tellis G, Gabel R. Communication apprehension and self-perceived communication competence in adolescents who stutter. J Fluency Disord 2001; 26: 161-178
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Olweus D. A profile of bullying at school. Educ Leadersh 2003; 60: 12-17
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Olweus D. Bully/victim problems among schoolchildren: long-term consequences and an effective intervention program. In: Hodgins S. ed. Mental Disorder and Crime. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications; 1993: 317-349
    Google Scholar
  • 35 Blood GW, Blood IM. Bullying in adolescents who stutter: communication competence and self-esteem. Contemp Issues Commun Sci Disord 2004; 31: 69-79
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Morreale SP, Cooper P, Perry C. Guidelines for Developing Oral Communication Curricula in Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. Annandale, VA: National Communication Association; 2000
    Google Scholar
  • 37 Beebe S. Message from the president: our front porch. Spectra. 2013; 49: 3-22
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 AC Nielsen Research Services. Research on employer satisfaction with graduate skills. Interim Report. Canberra, Australia: 1998
    Google Scholar
  • 39 Darling AL, Dannels DP. Practicing engineers talk about the importance of talk: a report on the role of oral communication in the workplace. Commun Educ 2003; 52: 1-16
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Mikkelson AC, York JA, Arritola J. Communication competence, leadership behaviors, and employee outcomes in supervisor-employee relationships. Busin Prof Comm Quar 2015; 78: 336-354
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Payne HJ. Reconceptualizing social skills in organizations: exploring the relationship between communication competence, job performance, and supervisory roles. J Leadersh Organ Stud 2005; 11: 63-77
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Scudder JN, Guinan PJ. Communication competencies as discriminators of superiors' ratings of employee performance. J Bus Commun 1989; 26: 217-229
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Hurst MI, Cooper EB. Employer attitudes toward stuttering. J Fluency Disord 1983; 8: 1-12
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Cream A, Onslow M, Packman A, Llewellyn G. Protection from harm: the experience of adults after therapy with prolonged-speech. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2003; 38 (04) 379-395
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Yaruss JS, Quesal RW, Reeves L. et al. Speech treatment and support group experiences of people who participate in the National Stuttering Association. J Fluency Disord 2002; 27 (02) 115-133 , quiz 133–134
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Venkatagiri HS. What do people who stutter want--fluency or freedom?. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2009; 52 (02) 500-515
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Morreale S, Moore M, Surges-Tatum D, Webster L. The Competent Speaker Evaluation Form. 2nd ed.. Washington, DC: National Communication Association; 2007
    Google Scholar
  • 48 Byrd CT, Croft R, Gkalitsiou Z, Hampton E. Clinical utility of self-disclosure for adults who stutter: apologetic versus informative statements. J Fluency Disord 2017; 54: 1-13
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Byrd CT, McGill M, Gkalitsiou Z, Cappellini C. The effects of self-disclosure on male and female perceptions of individuals who stutter. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2017; 26 (01) 69-80
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 50 Byrd CT, Gkalitsiou Z, McGill M, Reed O, Kelly EM. The influence of self-disclosure on school-age children's perceptions of children who stutter. J Child Adolesc Behav 2016; 4: 296-304
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 51 Collins CR, Blood GW. Acknowledgment and severity of stuttering as factors influencing nonstutterers' perceptions of stutterers. J Speech Hear Disord 1990; 55 (01) 75-81
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 52 Healey EC, Gabel RM, Daniels DE, Kawai N. The effects of self-disclosure and non self-disclosure of stuttering on listeners' perceptions of a person who stutters. J Fluency Disord 2007; 32 (01) 51-69
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 53 Riley G. Stuttering Severity Instrument for Children and Adults. 4th ed.. Tigard, OR: C.C. Publications; 2009
    Google Scholar
  • 54 Byrd C, Hampton E. Camp Dream. Speak. Live.: An Intensive Therapy Program for Children Who Stutter. Austin, TX: UT Copy Services; 2016
    Google Scholar
  • 55 RStudio. Integrated Development for R [Computer software]. RStudio, PBC, RStudio Team; 2020. . Accessed January 5, 2021 at: http://www.rstudio.com/
    Google Scholar
  • 56 Irwin DE, Gross HE, Stucky BD. et al. Development of six PROMIS pediatrics proxy-report item banks. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2012; 10 (01) 22
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 57 Holm S. A simple sequentially rejective multiple test procedure. Scand Stat Theory Appl. 1979; 6: 65-70
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 58 Herbein E, Golle J, Tibus M, Schiefer J, Trautwein U, Zettler I. Fostering elementary school children's public speaking skills: a randomized controlled trial. Learn Instr 2018; 55: 158-168
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 59 Corcoran JA, Stewart M. Stories of stuttering: a qualitative analysis of interview narratives. J Fluency Disord 1998; 23: 247-264
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 60 Lowe R, Guastella AJ, Chen NTM. et al. Avoidance of eye gaze by adults who stutter. J Fluency Disord 2012; 37 (04) 263-274
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 61 Plexico L, Manning WH, Dilollo A. A phenomenological understanding of successful stuttering management. J Fluency Disord 2005; 30 (01) 1-22
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 62 Vanryckeghem M, Brutten GJ, Uddin N, Van Borsel J. A comparative investigation of the speech-associated coping responses reported by adults who do and do not stutter. J Fluency Disord 2004; 29 (03) 237-250
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 63 Galati D, Miceli R, Sini B. Judging and coding facial expression of emotions in congenitally blind children. Int J Behav Dev 2001; 25: 268-278
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 64 Matsumoto D, Willingham B. Spontaneous facial expressions of emotion of congenitally and noncongenitally blind individuals. J Pers Soc Psychol 2009; 96 (01) 1-10
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 65 Shulman E. Factors influencing the variability of stuttering. In: Johnson W, Leutenegger RR. eds. Stuttering in Children and Adults. Minneapolis: MN: University of Minneapolis Press; 1955: 207-217
    Google Scholar
  • 66 Constantino CD, Leslie P, Quesal RW, Yaruss JS. A preliminary investigation of daily variability of stuttering in adults. J Commun Disord 2016; 60: 39-50
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 67 Ambrose NG, Yairi E. The Tudor study: data and ethics. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2002; 11: 190-203
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 68 Johnson W, Van Riper C, Davis D. et al. A study of the onset and development of stuttering. J Speech Disord 1942; 7: 251-257
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 69 Byrd CT, Werle D, St Louis KO. Speech-language pathologists' comfort level with use of term “stuttering” during evaluations. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2020; 29 (02) 841-850
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar