Evaluation of regulated-breathing method and awareness training in the treatment of stuttering.

Twelve subjects participated in this study. One group was treated by means of the regulated-breathing technique (Azrin & Nunn, 1974). Three other groups were treated similarly after receiving additional types of awareness training. Measures of stuttering were obtained obtrusively and unobtrusively during telephone and laboratory interviews before, during, at termination, and two months after the end of treatment. It was hypothesized that increasing a subject's awareness of his stuttering before treatment would lead to better maintenance of therapeutic gains. Results partially support this hypothesis, but the clinical effectiveness of the regulated-breathing method is questioned.