Stuttering treatment goals beyond fluency: A non-Western perspective

Purpose: Perspectives on treatment goals for stuttering have evolved in recent years. Placing less emphasis on fluency, and more on acceptance of stuttering and supporting confident communication for individuals who stutter, are often-stated current goals among Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) working in the US and Europe. However, it is unclear whether these changing perspectives are also present in non-Western cultures that have traditionally placed more emphasis on conforming to societal norms. This study investigated the range of perspectives held by South Korean SLPs regarding stuttering treatment approaches within a non-Western cultural context. Additionally, we examined variations in their beliefs about stuttering and explored how these beliefs might shape their treatment preferences. Method: Fifty-nine SLPs residing and working in South Korea completed an online Qualtrics survey about their views on stuttering and different treatment approaches. Results: More than half of the South Korean SLPs surveyed (54.1 %) demonstrated openness toward beyond-fluency approaches, although none supported treatment that completely excluded fluency goals. While most of the South Korean SLPs surveyed recognized stuttering acceptance as part of treatment, their rationale for doing so appears to be instrumentally tied to fluency outcomes—either to facilitate fluency improvement or as an alternative approach when fluency goals cannot be met. In addition, South Korean SLPs' beliefs about stuttering seemed to influence their treatment approach choices. SLPs who preferred fluency-focused approaches typically viewed stuttering as a disorder requiring correction and saw no benefits to stuttering, whereas those favoring beyond-fluency approaches believed societal prejudice was the primary problem rather than stuttering itself and recognized the positive aspects of stuttering. Conclusion: South Korean SLPs, despite their openness to beyond-fluency approaches, may not yet recognize stuttering acceptance as an independently worthwhile treatment objective that has value in and of itself. Implications are discussed for adapting beyond-fluency approaches to the Korean cultural context to enhance acceptance of these approaches among South Korean SLPs, children who stutter, and their families.