How to do a Fluency / Stuttering Evaluation

In this video, speech-language pathologist Carrie Clark will go over how to do an evaluation for fluency/stuttering.

Summary:

1. Evaluate General Foundations for Fluent Communication
   • Determine if concomitant speech, language, hearing disorders exist
   • Use hearing screening, speech and voice eval, language eval
2. Obtain Background Information
   • Determine perceptions of fluency problem by parents, family, teachers, and client
   • Determine impact of fluency disorder on social, academic, and work performance
   • Use interviews, case history, reports from other professionals and family members
3. Perform Published Testing on Overt and Covert Features
   • Determine if a problem exists, what kind of problem, and its severity by comparing client’s scores to standardized norms
   • Determine communication attitudes and self-concept
   • Use standardized tests
4. Perform Non-Standardized Testing
   • Determine overt behavior features of speech disfluency (type, frequency, core behaviors, speech rates)
   • Explore use of covert and struggle features
   • See how responsive the child is to different techniques or types of therapy
   • Use to determine direction and method of treatment
   • Do this through analysis of a speech sample using a variety of behavioral observations and rate calculations
   • Be sure to talk about emotions and communication attitudes during this to probe deeper into emotional implications
5. Evaluate Relevant Environments
   • Determine total resources for treatment
   • Look for obstacles to success in academic or social areas
   • Do this through an assessment of home environment and classroom demands

Source:

Diagnosis and Evaluation in Speech Pathology (Seventh Edition) by William O. Haynes and Rebekah H. Pindzola