Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’

Purpose Childhood stuttering may have long-lasting effects on a child’s linguistic and psychosocial development. Early interventions have shown promising results, however, clarity in professional roles and collaboration with parents is warranted to ensure equal and best practice. This study investig...

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Main Authors: Melanie Kirmess, Karianne Berg, Elisabeth Holm Hansen, Karoline Hoff, Hilde Hofslundsengen, Linn Stokke Guttormsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-07-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2025.2531965
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author Melanie Kirmess
Karianne Berg
Elisabeth Holm Hansen
Karoline Hoff
Hilde Hofslundsengen
Linn Stokke Guttormsen
author_facet Melanie Kirmess
Karianne Berg
Elisabeth Holm Hansen
Karoline Hoff
Hilde Hofslundsengen
Linn Stokke Guttormsen
author_sort Melanie Kirmess
collection DOAJ
description Purpose Childhood stuttering may have long-lasting effects on a child’s linguistic and psychosocial development. Early interventions have shown promising results, however, clarity in professional roles and collaboration with parents is warranted to ensure equal and best practice. This study investigated early childhood professionals’ and parents’ experience with interdisciplinary collaboration around preschool children who stutter.Method Three focus groups and eight individual digital interviews were conducted with a total of 18 participants: general practitioners (n = 2), public health nurses (n = 3), speech-language pathologists (n = 4), preschool teachers (n = 4) and parents (n = 5).Results Qualitative content analysis resulted in three themes: collaboration routines, competencies in early intervention, and organization of services. Our informants described dual collaborations among the professionals, typically between speech-language pathologists and preschool teachers, especially if the children did not have any other difficulty than stuttering. The professionals had different views on the wait-and-see approach. Both parents and professionals indicated that the system around a child who stutter could be person-dependent in referral and management. Some of the parents experienced that they had to actively seek information themselves to get what their child needed.Conclusion This potential inequality of services for preschool children who stutter implies a need for a systematic structure and increased professional knowledge in the healthcare and educational setting.
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spelling doaj-art-f92d6c8b696545dd9f317bfbb03f80c22025-08-20T03:50:40ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care0281-34321502-77242025-07-0111410.1080/02813432.2025.2531965Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’Melanie Kirmess0Karianne Berg1Elisabeth Holm Hansen2Karoline Hoff3Hilde Hofslundsengen4Linn Stokke Guttormsen5Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayFaculty of Education and Arts, Nord University, Levanger, NorwayFaculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South- Eastern Norway, Porsgrunn, NorwayStatped, Division of Speech/Language, Oslo, NorwayFaculty of Education, Arts and Sports, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, NorwayDepartment of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayPurpose Childhood stuttering may have long-lasting effects on a child’s linguistic and psychosocial development. Early interventions have shown promising results, however, clarity in professional roles and collaboration with parents is warranted to ensure equal and best practice. This study investigated early childhood professionals’ and parents’ experience with interdisciplinary collaboration around preschool children who stutter.Method Three focus groups and eight individual digital interviews were conducted with a total of 18 participants: general practitioners (n = 2), public health nurses (n = 3), speech-language pathologists (n = 4), preschool teachers (n = 4) and parents (n = 5).Results Qualitative content analysis resulted in three themes: collaboration routines, competencies in early intervention, and organization of services. Our informants described dual collaborations among the professionals, typically between speech-language pathologists and preschool teachers, especially if the children did not have any other difficulty than stuttering. The professionals had different views on the wait-and-see approach. Both parents and professionals indicated that the system around a child who stutter could be person-dependent in referral and management. Some of the parents experienced that they had to actively seek information themselves to get what their child needed.Conclusion This potential inequality of services for preschool children who stutter implies a need for a systematic structure and increased professional knowledge in the healthcare and educational setting.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2025.2531965Childhood stutteringearly childhood professionalsstuttering managementearly interventioninterdisciplinary collaboration
spellingShingle Melanie Kirmess
Karianne Berg
Elisabeth Holm Hansen
Karoline Hoff
Hilde Hofslundsengen
Linn Stokke Guttormsen
Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Childhood stuttering
early childhood professionals
stuttering management
early intervention
interdisciplinary collaboration
title Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’
title_full Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’
title_fullStr Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’
title_full_unstemmed Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’
title_short Interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for Norwegian preschool children who stutter: ‘Who, what, when, and where?’
title_sort interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical management for norwegian preschool children who stutter who what when and where
topic Childhood stuttering
early childhood professionals
stuttering management
early intervention
interdisciplinary collaboration
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02813432.2025.2531965
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