Fluency therapy may improve stuttering in Down syndrome

by Liam Davenport from news-medical.net:
Stuttering among children with Down syndrome may be substantially improved with fluency shaping therapy and parental contingency measures, leading to greater self-confidence, self-esteem, and school participation, suggest Canadian researchers.
Although stuttering is estimated to have a prevalence among children with Down syndrome of up to 48%, there has been little investigation into optimal treatment approaches and outcomes. A number of options have been suggested, including fluency therapy, which has raised concerns among clinicians about its applicability.
To investigate further, Jessica Harasym and Marilyn Langevin, from the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, provided a stuttering treatment program to a girl aged 8 years and 10 months with Down syndrome whose profound stuttering was characterized by part word repetitions, silent and audible prolongations, and had a marked impact on her home and school life.
The researchers devised a treatment program based on the Comprehensive Stuttering Program for Children and consisting of a number of phases: establishment of fluency skills; intensive fluency skill practice; transfer, with fluency skills practised in a wide variety of settings; refinement of fluency skills and home programming; and maintenance and follow up. The child was assessed using a series of speech measures, severity ratings, and self-, parent-, and teacher-reports.
The team reports in the Journal of Fluency Disorders that the child's stuttering decreased from an average of 59.3% syllables stuttered (SS) at pre-treatment to 6.4% SS immediately post-treatment, and 0.8% SS at follow up. Her speech rate consequently increased from 33.4 syllables spoken per minute (SPM) to 149.8 SPM and 182.9 SPM, respectively.
On all measures, the child demonstrated improved self-confidence, self-esteem, and participation following therapy, and improved school participation and performance. However, the child's mother found the demands on the daily home practice challenging, and had concerns about the risk for isolating her other child.
The team writes: "Findings of this descriptive case report suggest that treatments that use a combination of direct fluency-skill training and parent administered behavioural contingencies may be a viable treatment approach for school-age children with Down syndrome and that therapy can be an enjoyable experience."

Lose The Training Wheels

from Media-Newswire.com:

Children with disabilities such as Down syndrome will be taught to ride two-wheeled bikes – gaining confidence and independence in the process – at Lose the Training Wheels, a program of the Center for Community Inclusion at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation June 27-July 1.

With the help of volunteers, family members and C.W. Post students, approximately 40 children will use adaptive equipment in a week of training and practice. At the end of the five-day program, they will be ready to ride on their own.

For many children with disabilities, riding a two-wheeler is a seemingly impossible task. Past experience at the Center for Community Inclusion and in Lose the Training Wheels programs around the country shows that within days of learning to ride, many children exhibit independent behaviors for the first time ever. This achievement, in turn, creates a gateway of opportunity, helping them gain assurance and self-reliance in many other aspects of their lives.

“The program serves a critical community need in a creative, humanitarian way that involves a collaboration among our skilled and dedicated faculty, college students who are preparing for careers in the field of special education, and young people with and without developmental disabilities,” said Dr. Kathleen Feeley, assistant professor of special education and literacy at C.W. Post and founder of the Center for Community Inclusion. “The program helps students with developmental disabilities to build self-esteem and independence.”

Lose The Training Wheels is a national organization that uses adaptive equipment, trained professionals and volunteers. With 75 minutes of instruction each day for five days, approximately 85 percent of participants learn to ride a conventional bicycle independently. Sponsors include Mineola Bicycle, Fitness & Mower and Kelly Development.

The Center for Community Inclusion at C.W. Post is dedicated to providing resources to school districts, service providers, and families so that individuals with disabilities will meet with success in inclusive environments.

The Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded by a group of individuals who have children or family members with Down syndrome, dedicated to ensuring that individuals with Down syndrome have equal access to schools, leisure activities, employment, and housing.