The primary objectives of this investigation were two-fold: 1) to investigate whether implementation of individualized desensitization exercises in an intensive stuttering group therapy for school-age children who stutter is superior to the standard application of intensive stuttering group therapy, 2) to examine the relationship between exhibited emotional reactivity (positive and negative affect) and stuttering recovery rates. Secondary objectives included: 1) investigating whether cognitive, affective, linguistic and social scores differ with treatment and, 2) heart rate and skin conductance changes associated with the stuttered utterance during intensive stuttering group therapy activities. Twelve children (8 to 12 years of age, with equal randomization \[1:1\]) randomized to two groups; 1) Study group, individualized desensitization exercises implemented in 2 weeks of intensive stuttering group therapy(n=6), 2) Control group, 2 weeks of standard intensive stuttering group therapy(n=6). Children were blinded to treatment arm. The first part of this study was a superiority trial of individualized desensitization exercises in intensive stuttering group therapy. The second part of the study was conducted with the study group during the daily therapy activities of intensive stuttering group therapy to investigate the emotion's effect on therapy outcomes with behavioral and physiological measures.
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The stuttering severity
Timeframe: One month before therapy to three months after therapy
Emotional reactivity (positive and negative affect) effect on therapy outcome
Timeframe: Collected during first 3 days of the intensive stuttering group therapy to compare the therapy outcomes