Medicine
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/12
This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
Browse
3 results
Search Results
Item Experiences and expectations of adults who stutter attending speech and language therapy for stuttering in Sri Lanka.(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Ampemohotti, A.M.N.L.; Nonis, D.BACKGROUND: Over the years, the role of adults who stutter in stuttering treatment has evolved from being a passive recipient to an ‘expert’ partner in the collaborative therapeutic process. Therefore, understanding the client’s experiences and expectations regarding stuttering treatment has been recognized as an integral element of an effective therapeutic process. Although several global studies have explored the experiences and expectations of adults who stutter in relation to stuttering treatment, it is an uncharted area related to speech and language therapy in the Sri Lankan context. OBJECTIVE/S: The study explored experiences and expectations of adults who stutter attending speech and language therapy in Sri Lanka. METHODS: This study used a generic qualitative approach. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 adults who stutter who were attending or had attended speech and language therapy within the past two years at a state university clinic in Sri Lanka. All interviews were conducted in Sinhala language via Zoom. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English language, and analyzed using a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the data: 1) limited awareness of stuttering and its management, 2) impact of stuttering on adults who stutter, 3) experiences of coping with stuttering before attending therapy, and 4) perceptions towards successful management of stuttering. Most of the participants’ experiences before successful management depicted narratives of negative emotions and reactions followed by a lifestyle dominated by avoidance and restriction. The majority of the participants’ expectation of therapy was to improve fluency. Many participants reported that their expectations for therapy were met and that therapy made a positive difference in their lives. Furthermore, the participantsm indicated multiple personal, therapeutic, and social factors that contribute to achieving successful outcomes from therapy. CONCLUSION/S: The current study emphasizes the importance of individualized therapy, designed by considering all the unique perceptions and needs of individuals related to their quality of life to improve the likelihood of successful therapeutic outcomes. The study reveals that being absolutely fluent is not a necessary criterion for the successful management of stuttering. In addition, the findings highlight the need to promote awareness of stuttering and its management and the profession of speech and language therapy among the Sri Lankan public.Item Experiences and Expectations of Adults who Stutter Attending Speech and Language Therapy for Stuttering in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Ampemohotti, A.M.N.L.; Nonis, D.INTRODUCTION: The role of adults who stutter (AWS) in stuttering treatment has evolved from a passive recipient to an ‘expert’ partner in the collaborative therapeutic process. There is limited understanding of the experiences and expectations of AWS in relation to speech and language therapy for stuttering in the Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVES: The study explored experiences and expectations of adults who stutter attending speech and language therapy for stuttering in Sri Lanka. METHODOLOGY: This study used a generic qualitative approach. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted in Sinhala language via Zoom with 12 AWS recruited from a state university clinic in Sri Lanka. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English language, and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were developed from the data: 1) limited awareness of stuttering and its management, 2) impact of stuttering on AWS, 3) experiences of coping with stuttering before attending therapy, and 4) perceptions towards successful management of stuttering. Many participants’ expectation for therapy was to improve fluency. The results indicated contrasting experiences of AWS before and after successful management of stuttering and multiple personal, therapeutic, and social factors that contribute to achieving successful therapeutic outcomes. CONCLUSION: The study emphasizes the importance of individualized therapy to improve the likelihood of successful therapeutic outcomes. Being absolutely fluent is not a necessary criterion for the successful management of stuttering. The findings highlight the need to promote awareness of stuttering and its management and the profession of speech and language therapy among the Sri Lankan public.Item Parental perceptions towards childhood stuttering in Sri Lanka.(Elsevier Scientific Publishing, 2022) Nonis, D.; Unicomb, R.; Hewat, S.Introduction: Parental perceptions towards stuttering is an important consideration as parents play a crucial role in the initial identification and management of stuttering in young children. Although several studies have been conducted on parental perceptions towards childhood stuttering in other countries, little is known about how stuttering is perceived and managed by parents in Sri Lanka. Aims: This study explored Sri Lankan parents' perceptions towards childhood stuttering and their experiences regarding attending speech and language therapy for stuttering. Methodology: Using a qualitative approach, 15 parents of children who stutter were recruited from a stuttering clinic at a state university in Sri Lanka. Parents participated in semi-structured interviews with the first author. The interviews were conducted via telephone in Sinhala language, recorded, transcribed verbatim in Sinhala and then translated into English. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five themes emerged from the data: (1) limited knowledge about stuttering and management (2) influence of religion and culture on stuttering (3) variable responses to stuttering (4) impact of stuttering on the parent and child (5) impact and engagement in speech therapy. Conclusion: The findings highlighted the need to educate the Sri Lankan public about stuttering as a communication disorder and raise awareness about the profession of speech language therapy in the country. Specifically, it is important for other health professionals and teaching professionals to learn more about stuttering, so that appropriate early referrals can be made for speech and language therapy, lessening the impact on children and their families.