Stuttering Foundation Podcast

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Selma Saad Merouwe, Ph.D., Speech-Language Pathologist, researcher, and Assistant Professor at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, to discuss her recent study, “Is One Language Enough? Assessing Overt Stuttering Severity in Bilingual Children,” co-authored with Raymond Bertram, Ph.D., and Kurt Eggers, Ph.D. Selma begins by providing background on bilingualism and stuttering, including what previous research has suggested about how stuttering may present across languages and some of the challenges clinicians face when assessing bilingual children who stutter.

She then shares more about the distinctive early multilingual language-learning landscape in Lebanon and how it provided an opportunity to explore early bilingualism and stuttering in unique ways. Selma walks listeners through the study design and findings, including what the results may tell us about assessing overt stuttering severity across languages when considering early multilingual language learners. The episode concludes with clinical implications, strengths and limitations of the current research, and areas for continued investigation aimed at supporting more evidence-based and culturally responsive assessment of bilingual children who stutter.

Merouwe SS, Bertram R, Eggers K. Is One Language Enough? Assessing Overt Stuttering Severity in Bilingual Children. Folia Phoniatr Logop. 2026 May 8:1-14. doi: 10.1159/000552443. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42102010.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42102010/

Selma Saad Merouwe, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Saint Joseph University of Beirut and a researcher at the Speech Therapy Research Lab. With nearly two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, teaching, and research, her work focuses primarily on stuttering, cluttering, and language disorders. She is a European Stuttering Specialist (certified in 2018) and holds two doctoral degrees in complementary fields: a PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Turku (Finland) and a PhD in Biological and Medical Sciences from Saint Joseph University of Beirut. Her research explores the relationship between stuttering and bilingualism, as well as the cultural and linguistic adaptation of assessment tools for the Lebanese context. Selma is also affiliated with Ghent University (Belgium) as a postdoctoral researcher at the Stuttering Research Group. She collaborates with international research teams on projects examining stuttering across languages and cultures, with the shared aim of supporting assessment and intervention practices that are both evidence-based and culturally responsive. Alongside her academic role, she co-founded Terap Clinics, where she works with children, adolescents, and adults who present with stuttering, cluttering and language disorders. She is actively involved in professional service and advocacy, serving as Head of the Stuttering Committee at the Lebanese Association of Speech and Language Therapists, a member of the Practice Committee of the World Stuttering and Cluttering Organization (WSCO), and Lebanon’s representative in the International Cluttering Association (ICA).

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Alice Hart, Ph.D., speech pathologist, researcher, and lecturer at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, to explore Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and its application within stuttering therapy. Dr. Hart provides an introduction to ACT and its core principles, including psychological flexibility, acceptance, mindfulness, values, and committed action, and discusses how incorporating components of ACT can support people who stutter in moving closer to where they want to be.

The conversation explores how ACT can help individuals shift their relationship with difficult thoughts, feelings, and reactions to stuttering while moving toward meaningful, values-based communication and participation. Dr. Hart also shares findings from her research integrating ACT and fluency-based approaches through the fACTS Program and offers practical considerations for incorporating ACT principles into individualized, holistic stuttering therapy.

Resources:

• YouTube clip mentioned, "The Unwelcomed Party Guest- an Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Metaphor
• Russ Harris’ website/resources
• Previous Virtual Learning Session with Jane Harley, "An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Taster"

Bio: Alice Hart, Ph.D. is a certified practicing speech pathologist and a lecturer in the Curtin University School of Allied Health in Perth, Western Australia. Alice is passionate about working with people who stutter across the lifespan. Her clinical and research interests include management of psychosocial challenges associated with stuttering and advocating for a holistic approach to stuttering support. Alice completed her Ph.D. in stuttering in 2022, and was awarded the Curtin University Chancellor’s Commendation for research excellence, for her thesis exploring the feasibility of an integrated fluency and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention for adolescents and adults who stutter. 

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Kurt Eggers, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Ghent University in Belgium, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, to provide an introduction to temperament and stuttering. Drawing on his clinical and research expertise, Dr. Eggers provides an overview of temperament, reviews the historical context of temperament within research, highlights findings from his work and the broader literature, and discusses why temperament may be an important factor to consider in understanding how individuals experience and respond to stuttering. The conversation also explores clinical implications, current areas of research focus, and areas of future research consideration. Throughout the episode, listeners gain a deeper understanding of how temperament may contribute to individual differences among people who stutter, important clinical considerations related to temperament, and how this knowledge can help inform individualized assessment and intervention.

For further learning, explore Dr. Kurt Eggers' newest ASHA CE Course available through Stuttering Foundation, "Temperament Relevance & Implications for Children Who Stutter." The presentation is also available on the Streaming Video Library for those not seeking ASHA CEUs.

Bio: Kurt Eggers is a Professor in the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Ghent University in Belgium where he coordinates the Stuttering Research Group. He is chair of the European Stuttering Specialization, past president of the World Stuttering and Cluttering Organization, and Secretary of the Certified European Stuttering Specialists. Kurt has worked clinically for many years, and his research focuses on temperament, attention, and executive functioning in stuttering and speech disfluencies in different populations.

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Catherine Theys, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, to discuss acquired stuttering, including both neurogenic stuttering and functional stuttering. Drawing on her clinical and research expertise, Dr. Theys provides an overview of acquired stuttering, different subtypes, and how it differs from developmental stuttering in terms of etiology, presentation, and experiences. The conversation explores assessment, differential diagnosis, and treatment considerations, including the unique challenges faced by individuals who develop stuttering later in life. Dr. Theys also shares insights from the research literature, highlighting the need for more systematic investigation in this area and discussing projects her lab is pursuing to advance our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying acquired stuttering and improve clinical assessment and intervention. Throughout the episode, listeners gain practical guidance for evaluating and supporting individuals with acquired stuttering while developing a deeper understanding of this less frequently discussed area of stuttering research and clinical practice.

Resources for further learning:

• Theys & Fairbairn (in press). Acquired stuttering: recent developments. In: The Routledge International Handbook of Stuttering. Howell & Gattie (Eds.). Routledge International Handbook of Stuttering. 
• Grout-Brown & Theys (2025). Assessment and treatment of acquired stuttering: A single subject study. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 84, 106121.
• Theys, Jaakkola, Melzer, De Nil, Guenther, Cohen, Fox & Joutsa (2024). Localisation of stuttering based on causal brain lesions. Brain, 147(6), 2203-13. 
• Gooch, Melzer, Horne, Grenfell, Livingston, Pitcher, Dalrymple-Alford, Anderson, McAuliffe and Theys (2024). Higher frequency of stuttered disfluencies negatively affects communicative participation in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 67(10), 3631-42. 
• Gooch, Horne, Melzer, McAuliffe, MacAskill, Dalrymple-Alford, Anderson & Theys (2023). Acquired Stuttering in Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 10(6), 956-966. 
• Theys & Tetnowski (2023). Case reports of acquired stuttering. In: Case Reports in Stuttering and Cluttering. Eggers & Leahy (Eds.), pgs. 114-123. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. 
• Theys & De Nil (2022). Acquired stuttering: etiology, symptomatology, identification and treatment. In: Stuttering: Characteristics, Assessment and Treatment (4th ed.). Zebrowski, Anderson & Conture (Eds.), 33 pgs. Thieme Publishers. 
• De Nil, Theys & Jokel (2018). Stroke-related acquired neurogenic stuttering. In: Aphasia Rehabilitation: Clinical Challenges. Coppens, P. & Patterson, J. (Eds.), pgs. 173-202. Jones & Bartlett Learning. 
• Theys, van Wieringen, Sunaert, Thijs & De Nil (2011). A one-year prospective study of neurogenic stuttering following stroke: Incidence and co-occurring disorders. Journal of Communication Disorders, 44, 678-687. 
• Theys, van Wieringen, Tuyls & De Nil (2009). Acquired stuttering in a 16-year-old boy. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 22, 427-435. 
• Theys, van Wieringen & De Nil (2008). A clinician survey of speech and non-speech characteristics of neurogenic stuttering. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 33, 1-23. 

Bio: Catherine Theys is a Professor at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. She trained in Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology at KU Leuven (Belgium), where she also completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences. Her research seeks to advance understanding of speech and language difficulties by integrating behavioural and neuroimaging approaches. Her key research interests include developmental and acquired stuttering, acquired neurogenic communication disorders, and the neuroscience of speech and language. 

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Gina Waggott, author of Scatman John: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Unlikeliest Popstar, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, for a conversation exploring the life, legacy, stuttering journey, and lasting impact of Scatman John. The discussion explores how Scatman John’s visibility, openness, and mentorship profoundly shaped Gina’s relationship with stuttering and ultimately inspired her to write his biography. She also shares more about the process of researching and writing the book, including conducting more than 100 interviews to better understand John Larkin not simply as a pop culture figure, but as a musician, mentor, and role model whose message continues to resonate with new generations of people who stutter today.

Scatman John: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Unlikeliest Popstar

More on Scatman John on the Stuttering Foundation's Website

Gina Waggott is a writer, editor, and former BBC professional with a background spanning broadcasting, journalism, and disability advocacy. She is a covert stutterer trying to be more overt, and has been involved in the stuttering community for 25 years. She is currently the Finance & Operations Manager at 50 Million Voices. 

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Susan Hamilton Burleigh, M.A., CCC-SLP, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, to explore how clinicians, particularly those newer to working with stuttering, can bring Stuttering Foundation resources to life in everyday therapy. Susan brings over 40 years of experience in private practice specializing in stuttering and fluency disorders and has taught and supervised graduate training in stuttering at the University of Washington. She also co-led the Stuttering Foundation’s Western Workshop for two decades alongside Marilyn Langevin and Jennifer Watson.

In this practical, clinician-focused episode, Susan and Sara take the “What’s True For You” activity from The School-Age Child Who Stutters: Working Effectively with Attitudes and Emotions Workbook and walk through how it can be used, expanded, and adapted to support meaningful therapy. Through discussion and a demonstration role-play, they highlight how the activity can help build rapport, deepen understanding of a child’s unique experiences, and guide next steps in therapy. 

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Kristin Chmela, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF, of the Chmela Communication Center, join host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, to discuss what it means to keep the person at the center of stuttering therapy. The conversation explores what person-centered care looks like in practice and how clinicians can keep the individual who stutters at the heart of clinical decision-making. She also introduce the Circle of Principles, describing how this framework can support thoughtful reflection, guide problem-solving in therapy, and help clinicians navigate complexities while remaining grounded in the needs and experiences of the person they support.

Kristin Chmela, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCS-SCF has serviced children and teens who stutter for almost forty years at the Chmela Communication Center in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.  She is an author, lecturer, consultant, and co-founder and Director of the Training and Therapeutic Experience Program at Camp Shout Out. Kristin holds certifications in yoga, mindfulness, and trauma informed practices.  She continues to spend the majority of her time helping individuals who stutter, clutter, and have other fluency challenges and remains passionate about helping speech language pathologists service this population.

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Martha Jeffery, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering in London, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, to discuss a qualitative research project exploring parents’ and children’s perspectives of change following one year of Palin STSC (8–14 years old) therapy. Martha shares the aims and design of the study, which examined how children participating in group or individual therapy, and their parents, described the changes they experienced, and what felt most meaningful.
Drawing on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, the conversation highlights key themes including shifts in perspective, increased confidence and participation, greater use of skills and strategies, and growing independence and resilience. Martha reflects on how meaningful change from the child and parent perspectives can positively contribute to our therapy development, outcome measurement, individualization, and guide future training and research.

Bio: Martha Jeffery is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering  in London, UK and she has worked there since 2013.  She started her career as a Speech and Language Therapist in 2008, and before then she had an earlier life in conference organizing and then banking. At the Michael Palin Centre she works with children and young people who stammer and their families, carrying out assessments and delivering therapy individually and in groups.  She also has a smaller caseload of adults who stammer. She is a co-cordinator of the Michael Palin Centre’s training programme, which delivers 12 core courses that range from therapy programmes such as Palin PCI, to using psychological approaches such as Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy with people who stammer.  The Centre’s training courses reach over 600  speech and language therapists globally each year, which reaches an estimated 6000 children who stammer worldwide annually.  Martha also devises and delivers training programmes - most recently a one-day course on Cluttering.  The third strand of Martha’s work at The Michael Palin Centre, is contributing to their research programme and she will be talking about the research project she is currently working on today.

Martha has attended additional training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and has an Advanced Certificate in Solution Focused Brief Therapy from BRIEF (London)’s year-long programme.  She is co-author of Solution Focused Brief Therapy with Children and Young People who Stammer and their Parents: A Practical Guide from the Michael Palin Centre (2024) with Ali Berquez.  She is not a person who stammers, but she is married to a person who stammers and is mother to two children - one whose stammer resolved and one whose stammer has continued. 

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David Luterman, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Professor Emeritus at Emerson College, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, to explore what it truly means to be family-centered in clinical practice. Drawing on more than 60 years of clinical and teaching experience, Dr. Luterman shares stories and formative moments that have shaped his belief in placing families at the center of assessment and therapy. The conversation invites clinicians to reflect on how thoughtfully supporting families can foster deeper, more meaningful change for clients.

Additional Resources:

• Empowering the Client with Dr. David Luterman
• 60 Years of Clinical Teacher in Counseling: Reflections with Dr. David Luterman
• Sharpening Counseling Skills 
• Parent Counseling: Conversations with David Luterman 

David Luterman, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, is a professor emeritus at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts and Director of the Thayer Lindsey Family Centered Nursery for Hearing Impaired Children. He is the author of many articles and several books, including his seminal book called Counseling Persons with Communication Disorders and Their Families, now in its 5th edition. He has done several podcasts and a DVD through the Stuttering Foundation called Counseling People who Stutter and Their Families. In addition to authoring many books, he is a well-known teacher, researcher, consultant, and lecturer. Dr. Luterman is a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and recipient of the Frank Kleffner Clinical Achievement Award (2011).

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Dr. Shahriar SheikhBahaei, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior at Stony Brook University, joins host Sara MacIntyre, M.A., CCC-SLP, to discuss emerging research exploring the cellular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying stuttering. Dr. SheikhBahaei shares his journey from lived experience with stuttering to leading a neuroscience research lab investigating how glial cells, particularly astrocytes, contribute to motor control and speech-related circuits.

The conversation delves into several recent studies from his lab that utilize mouse models to uncover how alterations in astrocyte function and iron regulation may relate to the neural pathways involved in stuttering. Dr. SheikhBahaei walks listeners through the background, scientific rationale, and key findings of these studies, highlighting what they reveal about the non-vocal motor aspects of stuttering and how this basic science may inform future directions in understanding and treatment.

The episode concludes with reflections on bridging laboratory research with the lived experiences of people who stutter and fostering collaboration among scientists, clinicians, and the stuttering community.

Resources discussed:

• SheikhBahaei, S., et al. (2025). Non-vocal motor deficits in a transgenic mouse model linked to stuttering disorders. bioRxiv. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.08.669441v2
• SheikhBahaei, S., et al. (2025). Iron dysregulation in mice engineered with a mutation associated with stuttering. bioRxiv. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.30.667752v1
• SheikhBahaei, S., et al. (2024). Scientists, society, and stuttering: A multi-stakeholder approach. International Journal of Clinical Practice. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ijcp.13678

Shahriar SheikhBahaei, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and faculty member at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on how the brain controls complex motor behaviors such as speech and breathing, particularly focusing on the role of astrocytes in neural circuits. Growing up with stuttering has influenced his lifelong pursuit to understand the neurobiology of speech and communication. He completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience through a joint program at University College London and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He later became one of the first Independent Research Scholars at NIH, where he established his own lab. At Stony Brook University, he continues to investigate the cellular and circuit foundations of speech disorders while also mentoring the next generation of scientists and advocating for more inclusive perspectives on communication.