The verbal and nonverbal communicative abilities of pre-adolescent stutterers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate and describe some aspects of the verbal and nonverbal communicative competence of six pre-adolescent stutterers. A communication inventory was used to assess competence in relation to four communication functions and two contexts. The sample obtained was transcribed and analyzed in terms of nonverbal and verbal behaviors, including morpheme length paralinguistic features. The results indicated that the subjects were, on average, incompetent in all areas of communication. Correlations were made to stuttering frequency and attitudes to stuttering and sensitivity to communication. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.