Interventions for children and adolescence who stutter: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and evidence map
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Embargoed until: 2023-03-11
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Author(s)
Brignell, Amanda
Krahe, Michelle
Downes, Martin
Kefalianos, Elaina
Reilly, Sheena
Morgan, Angela
Year published
2021
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Purpose:
This systematic review critically appraises and maps the evidence for stuttering interventions in childhood and adolescence. We examine the effectiveness of speech-focused treatments, the efficacy of alternative treatment delivery methods and identify gaps in the research evidence.
Methods:
Nine electronic databases and three clinical trial registries were searched for systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and studies that applied an intervention with children (2–18 years) who stutter. Pharmacological interventions were excluded. Primary outcomes were a measure of stuttering severity and quality ...
View more >Purpose: This systematic review critically appraises and maps the evidence for stuttering interventions in childhood and adolescence. We examine the effectiveness of speech-focused treatments, the efficacy of alternative treatment delivery methods and identify gaps in the research evidence. Methods: Nine electronic databases and three clinical trial registries were searched for systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and studies that applied an intervention with children (2–18 years) who stutter. Pharmacological interventions were excluded. Primary outcomes were a measure of stuttering severity and quality assessments were conducted on all included studies. Results: Eight RCTs met inclusion criteria and were analysed. Intervention approaches included direct (i.e. Lidcombe Program; LP) and indirect treatments (e.g. Demands and Capacities Model; DCM). All studies had moderate risk of bias. Treatment delivery methods included individual face-to-face, telehealth and group-based therapy. Both LP and DCM approaches were effective in reducing stuttering in preschool aged children. LP had the highest level of evidence (pooled effect size=-3.8, CI -7.3 to -0.3 for LP). There was no high-level evidence for interventions with school-aged children or adolescents. Alternative methods of delivery were as effective as individual face-to-face intervention. Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review and evidence mapping are useful for clinicians, researchers and service providers seeking to understand the existing research to support the advancement of interventions for children and adolescence who stutter. Findings could be used to inform further research and support clinical decision-making.
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View more >Purpose: This systematic review critically appraises and maps the evidence for stuttering interventions in childhood and adolescence. We examine the effectiveness of speech-focused treatments, the efficacy of alternative treatment delivery methods and identify gaps in the research evidence. Methods: Nine electronic databases and three clinical trial registries were searched for systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and studies that applied an intervention with children (2–18 years) who stutter. Pharmacological interventions were excluded. Primary outcomes were a measure of stuttering severity and quality assessments were conducted on all included studies. Results: Eight RCTs met inclusion criteria and were analysed. Intervention approaches included direct (i.e. Lidcombe Program; LP) and indirect treatments (e.g. Demands and Capacities Model; DCM). All studies had moderate risk of bias. Treatment delivery methods included individual face-to-face, telehealth and group-based therapy. Both LP and DCM approaches were effective in reducing stuttering in preschool aged children. LP had the highest level of evidence (pooled effect size=-3.8, CI -7.3 to -0.3 for LP). There was no high-level evidence for interventions with school-aged children or adolescents. Alternative methods of delivery were as effective as individual face-to-face intervention. Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review and evidence mapping are useful for clinicians, researchers and service providers seeking to understand the existing research to support the advancement of interventions for children and adolescence who stutter. Findings could be used to inform further research and support clinical decision-making.
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Journal Title
Journal of Fluency Disorders
Volume
70
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, providing that the work is properly cited.
Subject
Medical and Health Sciences
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Language, Communication and Culture