Parental perceptions of stuttering in children: a systematic review of the literature

Parental perceptions towards stuttering and early treatment are vital in the identification and management of stuttering in children. The aims of this paper were to review the studies on parental perceptions towards stuttering and stuttering therapy, identify strengths and gaps in the relevant literature and provide recommendations for future research. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken. Six electronic databases were searched to identify studies that have explored parental perceptions towards stuttering and early treatment of stuttering. The search was limited to peer-reviewed studies, published in English between 1970 and 2019. Data were extracted from the eligible studies and the findings were analysed using a qualitative deductive content analysis approach. Twenty-one studies were included in the review, conducted in nine different countries, with the majority published in the past 10 years. Among them 12 studies have explored parental perceptions of stuttering and 11 have explored parental perceptions of stuttering therapy. Findings showed limited parental knowledge about stuttering and the presence of variable attitudes and reactions towards stuttering. Parental perceptions about stuttering therapy were generally positive. The review highlights the importance of educating parents about causal factors, progression and impact of stuttering as well as the importance of early intervention. The absence of research in countries where speech and language pathology as a profession is emerging, suggests the need to explore parental perceptions towards stuttering which will impact on quality of life of children who stutter.