An analysis of rehabilitation performance of speech therapy treatments and relapses with individuals that stuttered

Researches show that approximately one percent of adults stutter. In our country approximately 20.000 people stutter, two thirds of those are male. With an appropriate treatment stuttering can be eliminated or at least reduced. In the Slovenian area speech therapists often use the Conscious synthesis of development method complemented with the VLAJA techniques. Our goal was to explore the extent to which the above mentioned method was successful in stuttering elimination. We were interested in the characteristics of the physical well-being, thinking, emoting, and activity-behaviour before, while, and five years after the completion of the speech therapy of people who stutter. Based on a questionnaire we analysed the physical well-being, thinking, emoting and activity-behaviour in three different time periods. With that, we wanted to resolve the main issue – whether there were any relapses in speech after the completion of the speech therapies. Also, we wanted to verify which problems with speech the individuals were facing before the speech therapies, at the conclusion of them and which problems they are facing now. With Riley test we estimated the degree of stuttering before the speech therapy, after it and now. The individuals involved in the study attach great importance for the success of speech therapies to Vilko Mazi association. The mentioned association presents an upgrade to the therapeutic procedure. It offers support and help to people who stutter and their families. It organizes various activities where people who stutter can practice their speech in a natural environment. Also, it organizes a self-help group in which the individuals help each other. Nowadays, when we try to save money each step of the way this association is of a particular importance as it offers help and support free of charge. The results of research showed that relapses in speech with people who completed their speech therapies based on the Conscious synthesis of development method complemented with the VLAJA techniques five years ago were not present. The individuals' speech after the completion of therapies improved significantly – some individuals speak better today than at the time of therapies' completion. We found that statistically important differences exist in the physical well-being of the respondents in the time period after the speech therapies and now. Also, the differences in emoting of the respondents in the time period after the speech therapies and now turned out as statistically important. We also calculated statistically important differences in thinking of the respondents in the time period before the speech therapy and now as well as in the time period after the speech therapy and now. Statistically important differences were also calculated in activity-behaviour for the time period after the speech therapy and now