Efficacy of a parent-child program for 3- to 6-year-old children with stuttering: a retrospective controlled wait-list group pilot study

Abstract We evaluated the efficacy of Frankini, a 12-month early parent-child intervention that combines online parent counseling with hybrid speech restructuring to reduce stuttering severity and promote fluency-supportive interaction. This retrospective, nonrandomized pilot trial included cases enrolled between September 2019 and November 2023. For analysis, only participants who completed Module 1 (indirect parental training) and Module 2 (the first hybrid speech restructuring module) were included. A total of 51 cases met all inclusion criteria, and 30 of these completed all three modules. To simulate a wait-list-controlled design, eligible participants were divided into early and delayed groups using median split. The early group completed Module 2 nine months after baseline, the delayed group twelve months after baseline. Groups were matched on key characteristics and differed only in the timing of the first direct intervention. Blinded raters assessed stuttering severity. Primary outcomes included the Stuttering Severity Index, parental severity rating, and a 10-item parent report. At 9 months, the early group showed reduced stuttering severity, while the delayed group showed no change (mean difference = -8.33 95%CI [-12.98, -3.68], p < 0.001, with d = -1.14). By 12 months, both groups improved, and group difference were no longer significant (mean difference = -3.37 95%CI [-8.23, 1.50], p = 0.168 and d = -0.48). Parental ratings mirrored these outcomes showing consistent improvement after each module. Speech restructuring significantly improved speech fluency and parent counseling enhanced parents’ confidence, supporting the value of initiating treatment before age 6; however, follow-up is needed to assess long-term effects. Trial Registration DRKS00034731.