Abstract
Background and Aims: Fluency disorder or stuttering is a disorder in the human speech system whose prevalence is higher at the age range before puberty. Mind simulation is one of the methods that may be effective in reducing the severity of stuttering and some associated problems such as negative attitude towards communication. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Mind Simulation method on reducing stuttering and improving the rate of communication attitude.
Materials and Methods: The method of the present study was quasi- experimental with a pre-test-post-test design. The sample of the study was a group of 30 children and adolescents with stuttering who were referred to the Mental Psychology Services Center in 2024. A total of 30 Ss’ (age=7 to16 yrs., gender=M/F), including 9 females and 21 males responded to CAT-R DeNil and Brutten questionnaire, and their stuttering severity was measured by SSI-4 Railey in the pre-test stage. Clinical interviews were performed to determine if they were not affected by a particular disease. The subjects have been under treatment of the Mind Simulation method for 3 months. Then, they responded to the CAT-R questionnaire again and were measured in the post-test and one month later in the follow up stages. One-way Repeated Measure Analysis of Variance and Friedman Test statistical methods were used to analyze data.
Results: The data analysis results showed a significant difference between pre-test, post-test and follow up in stuttering severity (p=0.0001) and pre-test and post-test in communication attitude (p=0.0001). Statistical data did not report a significant difference in the control group before and after treatment in the amount of stuttering. Statistical data reported a significant difference in the post-test between the control group and the control group.
Conclusion: According to these results, the mind simulation method helps improve stuttering and communications attitude.