Keynote Address

Technology in Stuttering Treatment

Elizabeth Harrison

Current definitions of ‘Technology’ refer to both the application of machines and devices, as well as to the actual machines and devices themselves. To illustrate the difference with reference to stuttering treatment, examples of the former include information technology and communication technology, and examples of individual devices include altered auditory feedback equipment and instruments used to measure stuttering. The integration of technology in stuttering treatment can potentially improve access to specialised stuttering treatment services, and decrease treatment costs for people who stutter and service providers. In reality, technology often comes with barriers that hinder successful implementation. In this paper I will use clinical examples to draw attention to these barriers, provide insights from distance intervention research to highlight strategies for overcoming them, and suggest ways that emerging technologies might be incorporated in stuttering treatment in the future.