EFFECTIVENESS OF DIGITAL MANIPULATION OF THYROID CARTILAGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF STUTTERING IN ADULTS

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of digital manipulation of thyroid cartilage (DMT) with Fluency Shaping Therapy (FST) for the management of stuttering in adults. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Speech-Therapy department of National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine Islamabad. Twenty male adult patients were recruited in the current study through non-probability, convenience sampling. The participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups (n=10): DMT group FST group. Scale of rating severity of stuttering was used to assess the severity level at baseline and after the completion of 24 training sessions. Three vowel approaches with four sets of 5-repetition each were performed for each vowel in DMT group. Training in FST group comprised of speech techniques like easy onset, prolongation of speech, continuous phonation and light articulatory contact in reading and conversation in three speaking situations (speaking with therapist, reading aloud and free conversation). RESULTS: Mean age of the participants in DMT group was 21.4±2.2 years and FST group was 20.9±3.2 years. At baseline, there was no significant difference between DMT and FST groups regarding the severity of stuttering (5.3±0.94 vs. 5.6±0.96; p=0.492). As a result of 12 weeks of treatment, both groups demonstrated significant improvement (p 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups after intervention (4.6±1.26 vs 3.8±0.91; p= 0.12). CONCLUSION: Both DMT and FST techniques are equally effective in the management of stuttering in adults. Further large scale studies on adults and children of both genders are needed to compare effectiveness of DMT and FST.