A Long-Term Outcome of Stuttering Therapy Using Acupuncture as an Additive to Conventional Treatment Methods

Journal/Book: Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur. 1992; 35/04: 82-89.

Abstract: Twenty-nine severe stutterers (age range 3yrs 4mths - 43yrs 7mths) received treatment for stuttering using a combined method: acupuncture + speech therapy. The speech of twentythree clients had improved at least 2 points on the 5 point self-rating scale at discharge (the clients' personal decision). The mean number of treatments was 34 (range = 9-72 SD = 17.41). A follow-up study to which 23 of the 29 clients responded showed that all cases had maintained their levels of fluency for periods from 2yrs 6mths to 11yrs 6mths (mean 0 5yrs 8mths DS 42.62). In the treatment of stuttering, acupuncture, when combined with a personalized, holistic wpeech therapy programme appears to decrease the number of treatments required and increase the number of both clients with improved speech and long-term maintenances of this improvement. Acupuncture's effects includes neurophysiological and neurochemical (neurotransmitter) processes and in this way it could influence central language processing.

Keyword(s): Stottern, Akupunktur, Ergebnisse der Therapie, Nachuntersuchung, holistische Methode, Langzeitstudie

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