Determining the post-therapy maintenance of fluency in adolescents and adults by measuring their stuttering frequency

In this study, it is aimed to define the post-therapy stuttering frequency of the adults and adolescents, to what extent they maintain the fluency and if age and duration have effect on the maintenance.The research is designed in a retrospective design with comparative-descriptive model. 18 adolescents and 16 adults (total 34 individuals with stuttering) were included in this study. The participant group received stuttering therapy and was treated successfully in Anadolu University, DILKOM (Education, Research, and Training Center for Speech and Language Disorders). After 5 to 69 months, the individuals were called and their stuttering frequency was measured again. These results were compared with the results of the previous stuttering frequency measured just after the treatment. The difference between both was evaluated in order to find out if age and the duration after the therapy have any effect on the stuttering frequency. The speaking and reading sessions in which frequency measures were taken were recordedThe results of study demonstrated that there is a difference between the stuttering frequency measures both in reading and speaking taken just after the therapy and the measures taken 5-69 months after the therapy. It has been determined that the difference between the stuttering frequencies in reading measures is not due to the duration after therapy but to the age. On the other hand, it has been found that the difference between the stuttering frequencies in speaking measures is neither due to the duration nor age.Key Words: stuttering, stuttering frequency, post-therapy, maintenance of fluency level