Speech Clinicians' Attribution of Personality Traits as a Function of Stuttering Severity

Abstract

Thirty-six speech-language pathologists participated in a study to evaluate clinicians' preconceptions of persons who stutter. Each rated a designated construct (the normally fluent individual, the mild stutterer, the moderate stutterer, the severe stutterer) using a personality trait scale. Results indicated that clinicians stereotypically assign negative personality traits to all levels of stuttering severity relative to normal. Their ratings further demonstrated that stutterers are generally considered to be a homogeneous group. Differentiation amongst stutterers was made only between the polar ends of the stuttering severity continuum (that is, mild vs. severe). Clinicians' stereotypical trait assignment was not related to their professional experience. Results are discussed with reference to their clinical implications.

Peer Perceptions of Normal and Voice-Disordered Children

“…These findings corroborate those obtained for other speech disorders, including stuttering [Yairi and Williams, 1970;Wil liams, 1971, 1976;Turnbaugh et al. 1979], lisping [Silverman, 1976;Mowrer et al.…”

Anxiety levels in adolescents who stutter

“…Studies support the notion that children and adolescents who stutter are stereotyped as more anxious, stressed or nervous than their more fluent counterparts (Crowe & Walton, 1981;Ham, 1990;Ruscello et al, 1994;Turnbaugh et al, 1979;Woods & Williams, 1971). The current findings make an important contribution about anxiety and stuttering in adolescents, especially given the limited number of studies published.…”

“…Stuttering is an unpredictable disorder (Bloodstein, 1995;Guitar, 2005;Manning, 2001;Shapiro, 1999) with conflicting and variable responses from fluent communication partners and reported negative communication experiences (Bebout & Bradford, 1992;Ham, 1990;Ruscello, Lass, Schmitt, & Pannbacker, 1994;Turnbaugh, Guitar, & Hoffman, 1979;Woods & Williams, 1971). Data from qualitative studies suggest suffering, helplessness, shame, and stigma may be core experiences for some adults who stutter (Corcoran & Stewart, 1998;Crichton-Smith, 2002;Klompas & Ross, 2004).…”

Stereotypes of stutterers and nonstutterers in three rural communities in Newfoundland

“…shown to exist among parents (Crowe & Cooper, 1977;Fowlie & Cooper, 1978;Woods & Williams, 1976), speech language clinicians Cooper & Rustin, 1985;Lass, Ruscello, Pannbacker, Schmitt, & Everly-Myers, 1989;Turnbaugh, Guitar, & Hoffman, 1979), students (St. Louis & Lass, 1981;White & Collins, 1984), store clerks (McDonald & Frick, 1954), teachers (Crowe & Cooper, 1977;Crowe & Walton, 1981;Lass, Ruscello, Schmitt, Pannbacker, Orlando, Dean, Ruziska, & Bradshaw), vocational rehabilitation counselors , and employers .…”

“…In an attempt to determine if stuttering severity affected this negative stereotype, Turnbaugh et al (1979), employing a semantic differential personality trait scale had speech-language pathologists rate mild, moderate, and severe hypothetical stuttering individuals. They found that stutterers, regardless of stuttering severity, received negative stereotypes in comparison to nonstutterers.…”