Stuttering treatment : what do doctors do in Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract The title of this study is “Stuttering Treatment: What do Doctors do in Bangladesh?” The aim of this study was „To determine the current practice of doctors about the treatment of stuttering in Bangladesh.‟ The specific objectives were „To identify the treatments of stuttering that are usually provided by doctors‟ and „To identify the preferences of the doctors for the treatment of stuttering.‟

The study is based on phenomenological design under qualitative research method. The sample of the study was the paediatricians or general physicians or medicine specialists who are continuing their practices for at least 2 years. The number of sample was 7 who were selected from the population through purposive sampling method. In this study, face to face interviewing technique was applied to collect data using a 13-item semi-structured questionnaire (includes both close ended and open ended questions). The data obtained were analysed through content analysis procedure.

The result of the study showed that the participating doctors use evidence based diagnosis procedure. In case of providing treatment, they often use medicine and strategies e.g. shaping, relaxation etc.separately. But there is no evident basis of their using treatment strategies as there is no part included in the main course curriculum. They prefer to use those simultaneously. Participating doctors agreed that there are underlying psychological and physiological impairments and also have personality trait characteristics among the PWS. The responses of the participants indicate that they prefer to treat the PWS in MDT approach. They have some basic ideas about SLTs e.g. who are they, how they work etc. but they do not know about the current practices of SLT in Bangladesh. They do know that SLTs play effective roles in the treatment of stuttering