Resilience as a Protective Factor in Stuttering Development

Resilience science over the last 50 years has converged to show that “resilience” refers to a complex and dynamic set of internal and external factors that promote positiveoutcomes in the face of various sources of chronic adversity. Over the past 15 years or so, researchers in the nature and treatment of stuttering have used this work as a basis for identifying so-called “protective” factors that can either prevent or reduce the adverse effects of stuttering on one’s quality of life. In this presentation, I will summarize key findings from the stuttering literature and suggest research directions that consider age, interval from stuttering onset, severity/chronicity of stuttering (I.e., dose or cumulative risk), risk assessment and the potential for tailored therapy approaches based on these and other factors.