Relationship between stuttering severity in children and their mothers speaking rate.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Stuttering is a complex disease that influences occupational, social, academic and emotional achievements. The aim of this study was to correlate the stuttering severity index with speaking rates of mothers and children. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional study, at the child rehabilitation clinics of Tehran city. METHODS 35 pairs of mothers and their children who stuttered were studied. There were 29 boys and six girls, of mean age 8.5 years (range: 5.1-12.0). Speech samples from the mother-child pairs were audiotaped for approximately 15 minutes, until a reciprocal verbal interaction had been obtained. This sample was then analyzed in accordance with a stuttering severity index test and speaking rate parameters. RESULTS The research results outlined a significant relationship between the mothers speaking rate and their childrens stuttering severity. CONCLUSION The results suggest that the mothers speaking rate should be incorporated in the assessment and treatment of stuttering.