Self-perceptions of speech language pathologists-in-training before and after pseudostuttering experiences on the telephone.

Purpose: This survey investigated the effect of 'pseudostuttering' experiences on self-perceptions of 29 female, graduate students enrolled in a graduate seminar in stuttering while in a programme of study to become professional speech language pathologists.
Method: Perceptions of self prior to, and immediately after, participation in five scripted telephone calls that contained pseudostuttering were measured via a 25-item semantic differential scale.
Results: Participants perceived themselves as significantly more (p < 0.002) withdrawn, tense, avoiding, afraid, introverted, nervous, self-conscious, anxious, quiet, inflexible, fearful, shy, careless, hesitant, uncooperative, dull, passive, unpleasant, insecure, unfriendly, guarded, and reticent after their pseudostuttering telephone call experiences.
Conclusions: Findings suggests that the pseudostuttering experiences have an impact on self-perceptions and that the experience of 'adopting the disability of a person who stutters' may provide insight as to the social and emotional impact of communicative failure. It is suggested that pseudostuttering exercises may be a valuable teaching tool for the graduate students, especially for those who do not stutter.