What is known and unknown about altered auditory feedback as a treatment for stuttering?
Presenters: Michelle Lincoln, Clare Walker, Trudy Brookes
By Linda House, Wyre Primary Care Trust

Australian therapist Michelle Lincoln presented an interesting overview of the usefulness of these devices, including some preliminary findings of her own research. Altered auditory feedback (AAF) is a collective term for delayed auditory feedback (DAF), frequency altered feedback (FAF) and masking. AAF devices are becoming readily available and sought after by people who stutter as they claim to offer a viable alternative to traditional therapy.

Although there is an abundance of previous research showing a reduction in stuttering for most people when using an AAF device, much of this research has been done using reading, monologues and scripted conversations and was often carried out under 'laboratory' conditions. There is much less known about the use of AAF in everyday speaking situations and whether the benefits seen in the lab can be achieved in conversational settings. In two studies that looked at conversation, the reduction in stuttering was smaller and some people experienced no reduction.

Lincoln and her colleagues at the University of Sydney recognised the need for clients and therapists to have more information so they could decide if AAF was going to be useful. With this in mind they initiated some research, the preliminary results of which were presented at the conference.

Taking responses from a questionnaire sent to 14 adults using an AAF device, Lincoln and colleagues found that 23% were using the device on a regular basis while 62% were using it only some of the time. Many found it most useful on the telephone, both at work and with family and friends. A combination of AAF and a speech technique (prolonged speech) was used by 85.7% of respondents. All reported AAF to be least helpful in stressful speaking situations.

Lincoln identified several unanswered questions on the use of AAF. These were:
Who does AAF work for and whom doesn't it work for?
How well does AAF work in everyday speaking situations?
What are the long-term benefits (if any) of using AAF?
Is AAF best used in combination with a speech technique such as prolonged speech?

Until these questions are fully answered it will be difficult to confidently advise anyone as to whether AAF could be their key to more fluent speech. In addition, no previous research has looked at what clients who are using AAF actually think of it, its long-term use and benefits over time.

From the Autumn 2005 edition of Speaking Out

See also: Electronic fluency devices for more articles and links on AAF