A Preliminary Study of the Experiences of Iranian Adults with Stuttering of Support Groups to Achieve a Native Model

Due to the importance of documenting the effects of therapeutic interventions in the area of stuttering disorder، it is important to determine the effects of participation in support groups. Therefore، due to the necessity to record information related to factors influencing treatment in evidence-based speech therapy، the purpose of this study was to collect comprehensive information on the experiences of adults with stuttering from support groups in Iran and to achieve a native pattern. In this cross-sectional study 60 adults with stuttering disorder (37 males and 23 females with age range of 26 years) participated and completed a questionaire. Respondents were members of the stuttering associations in Iran. The samples were collected through non-probability and convenient method. Finally، data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22 with descriptive statistic. Response providers، participated in a support group to meet other people who stutter for the first time and usually due to the relationships that were developed and the technique which practiced،they continued their participation. They also reported that their participation in a support group had positive effective on their opinion about speech-language pathologists. And in many cases their willingness to pursue treatment has increased. Findings of this study suggest that people with stuttering have obtained useful experience in various areas of their participation in a support group.