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Biomedical subjects

R Ladouceur

Publications and source records attributed to R Ladouceur.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Reinforcement procedure in the treatment of reluctant speech.

The efficacy of a positive reinforcement contingency procedure was evaluated in the treatment of a 6-year old boy with reluctant speech. The intervention was conducted in the kindergarten classroom and the teacher served as therapist. Using an ABABB' single case experimental design, positive reinforcement was found to be effective for increasing the child's verbal responsiveness. At a 1-year follow-up, therapeutic benefits were maintained at an optimal level. The present results bring support to the use of reinforcement procedures in the case of reluctant speech.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1982

Evaluation of regulated-breathing method with and without parental assistance in the treatment of child stutterers.

The regulated-breathing method appears to be one of the most promising techniques for the treatment of stuttering in adults. In the original experiment reported by Azrin and Nunn (1974), only two children were included. The present experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of this therapeutic method with and without direct parental assistance. Twenty-one stuttering children were assigned to two treatment groups and one control group. The first group received the regulated-breathing treatment package, the second group was treated by their parents, trained to apply the regulated-breathing method, and the third group was a waiting-list control group. Obtrusive and unobtrusive measures of speech were recorded. At one month follow-up, although the frequency of stuttering in the two treatment groups was not statistically less than the results obtained by the control group, a 50% decrease occurred from baseline to follow-up periods. On the other hand, the control group showed an increase of stuttering of about 20%. Such results are discussed in relation to those reported by Azrin and Nunn and ways to improve the efficacy of the regulated-breathing method are suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

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.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Pre-exposure to the first dental treatment.

The present study attempts to verify the relative efficacy of two forms of pre-exposure which are identical in content and parallel in mode of exposure (in vivo or videotape). These two forms of pre-exposure were given to 38 children, aged four to six years old, before their first dental visit. The results showed that all groups manifested relatively little negative behavior while seeing the dentist. The theoretical and methodological implications of this study are discussed.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1981

Awareness training and regulated-breathing method in modification of stuttering.

Awareness has been shown to be an important variable in various types of learning in humans. Its role in the modification of different clinical disorders is promising. It is hypothesized that systemic awareness training prior to the introduction of regulated-breathing method would significantly improve fluency in stutterers. 16 stutterers (mean age 25.1 yr.) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, awareness training plus regulated-breathing method or regulated-breathing method only. All clients were seen individually during two 90-min. sessions and were informed that their speech was being recorded. The percentage of stuttering and the rate of speech were analyzed. Awareness training significantly reduced stuttering compared to a control procedure. But the most significant improvement appeared after the introduction of the regulated-breathing method. At a 1-mo. follow-up, although the frequency of stuttering was significantly less than during baseline, the level of disfluency was around 5%. From a clinical perspective, such results are far from satisfactory and no further follow-ups were conducted. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed to improve the efficacy of our therapeutic methods used to counteract stuttering.

Adolescent↗