Attitudes of Malaysian Speech-Language Pathologists and Speech-Language Pathology Students Toward Stuttering

INTRODUCTION: Attitudes of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) toward stuttering play an important role in managing stuttering cases. Yet, such studies had not been studied in Malaysia, a country that is still developing the profession of speech-language pathology. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of Malaysian SLPs and speech-language pathology students toward stuttering.

METHODS: A total of 50 SLPs and 67 speech-language pathology students completed the Clinician Attitudes Towards Stuttering (CATS) inventory. There were eight domains of attitudes toward stuttering: (a) etiology, (b) early intervention, (c) therapeutic efficacy, (d) personalities of PWS, (e) clinician expertise and roles, (f) teacher/counsellor roles and client/public reactions, (g) therapy strategies, and (h) parent attitudes. Descriptive data were presented and Multivariate Analysis of Variance was conducted to examine the effects of clinical certification on the eight domains of attitudes toward stuttering.

RESULTS: Participants who possessed a clinical certification were more accepting toward the personalities of people who stutter (PWS) and therapy strategies. On the other hand, participants without a clinical certification were more accepting toward clinician expertise and roles.

CONCLUSIONS: Current curriculum and professional training should be re-evaluated to remediate less accepting stereotypes held by SLPs and students toward PWS and to enhance essential skills such as counselling.