A Thematic Analysis of Late Recovery From Stuttering

Abstract

This study used thematic analysis to gain a better understanding of the experiences of individuals who reported late recovery from stuttering. Using a semistructured interview, 6 adults who reported recovering from stuttering after the age of 10 were asked to relate their recovery stories, with particular emphasis on their perceptions of factors responsible for the recovery process. The interviews were parsed into information-rich quotations that were ultimately placed into thematic categories. Three thematic categories appeared to capture the majority of the recovery attributions: (a) increased confidence; (b) increased motivation, expressed as a desire to make positive changes in speech; and (c) direct speech changes. Narrative case studies were subsequently developed to illustrate the 3 different "pathways to recovery" that were described by our participants.