A component analysis of awareness training for reducing speech disfluencies

Abstract

Recent literature supports using an awareness training treatment package to decrease speech disfluencies for college students delivering short speeches. This package includes identifying speech disfluencies first via a video recording (video training), then during in vivo speech practice (in vivo training). However, the literature lacks an evaluation of these subcomponents, which poses a barrier to better understanding the efficiency, social validity, and potential underlying behavioral principles of awareness training. We conducted an add-in component analysis with 8 college students by implementing either video or in vivo training first, evaluating treatment effects via a posttest, then implementing the remaining subcomponent, if warranted. We found that in vivo speech practice may be sufficient for reducing disfluencies for some participants, but a treatment package including the sequential application of both video and in vivo training is more likely to result in marked behavior change.