Abstract/Summary

This thesis comprises two studies. Study 1: Parents' perspectives in Khaleeji (Gulf) culture: An exploratory study. Background: A questionnaire was designed to examine Khaleeji parents' views, concerns and beliefs regarding the various factors that affect the child’s vulnerability to stuttering in a non-Western culture. Parents' perception can have a remarkable impact on the successful outcome of any treatment programme. This study is a prerequisite step and an essential requirement for the implementation of the second study, the Palin Parent-Child Interaction therapy (PCIT) within the Khaleeji/Saudi culture which require both parents to be involved in the therapy process. Therefore, parents’ opinion of treatment are crucial to consider since they play a pivotal role in their child's therapy (Hayhow, 2009). Parents are responsible for taking the child to and from clinics, practising at home, and paying for services. Consequently, if parents were dissatisfied, unaware, or not involved in their child’s therapy, the treatment process would likely be affected. The knowledge and attitudes of the parents can have a significant impact on the success of the treatment. Aim: To investigate the perceptions of parents of children who stutter on the onset and development of stuttering in non-western culture. We set out to explore parent’s perception of the factors that make young children vulnerable to stuttering in Khaleeji culture, and their awareness on the impact of stuttering on themselves and on their children. Methodology: A mixed-methods questionnaire was completed by 264 parents with children who stutter under the age 18 years old from different countries across the Gulf region: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, and Qatar. Results: Findings revealed the significant impact of having a child who stutter within the family, especially on the parents in the Khaleeji culture. Seventy per cent of parents attributed stuttering to an "Act of God" factor which was the most significant influencing factor. Many factors responded to on the questionnaire where characterised by statistically significant differences between mothers and fathers' responses.