Simone Falk, PhD | University of Montreal
Stuttering is a speech fluency disorder which impedes communication. Due to the stigma surrounding stuttering, people who stutter may suffer from reduced psychosocial wellbeing, characterized by anxiety, guilt, shame and isolation. Group singing is a way to heighten social connectedness as well as psychological wellbeing for people who stutter. It may also have potential to enhance articulatory skills and may affect the rhythm of conversations. This study aims to shine light on new ways to improve aspects and impacts of stuttering by evaluating the impacts of group singing on people who stutter across different age groups.
In a first-of-its-kind pilot study, singing groups for adults and (pre)adolescents will run for 10 weeks to evaluate the effects of singing on wellbeing, communication and socio-emotional aspects specific to stuttering. We evaluate the effects via pre- and post questionnaires and online testing assessing stuttering severity, history and psychosocial impact, stigma, articulatory, conversational and musical skills, socio-emotional wellbeing, and cognitive measures (inhibition, working memory and attention).
While data analysis is still underway, preliminary results show strong effects of group singing on reduction of auto-stigmatisation of participants who stutter. They also support the idea of stabilizing articulatory and communicative rhythms, as well as enhancing perceived wellbeing, in particular in social contexts.
The results offer insights for reducing stigma via musical activities, breaking barriers for getting involved in new social activities, and the potential for singing activities to complement self-help and speech therapy interventions.
Use the box below to sign up for our newsletter to hear about research updates and activities as we announce them!
Ⓒ 2020-2024, The SingWell Project