Seminar: Parental Perceptions of Stuttering in Türkiye: A Qualitative Inquiry

Parental Perceptions of Stuttering in Türkiye:  A Qualitative Inquiry

Dr Şevket Özdemir
Department of Speech and Language Therapy
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mugla Sitki Kocman University

Date:            July 11, 2025 (Friday)
Time:            15:00 – 16:30
Venue:          Room 646, Meng Wah Complex, HKU
Moderator:   Professor Mehdi Bakhtiar

Abstract:
Stuttering affects not only the individuals who stutter but also their families and broader social environments, due to its complex and multifactorial nature. As stuttering becomes chronic, families often experience a range of emotional and behavioral reactions. Previous studies have shed light on some of these responses, and a recent review indicates a growing interest in exploring parental perceptions of stuttering particularly over the past decade. However, much of this research has relied on quantitative methodologies.

The aim of this seminar is to explore, through a qualitative lens, how families in Türkiye perceive stuttering and to understand their experiences and coping strategies. It draws on findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with Turkish-speaking parents of children who stutter. The seminar will present these findings in depth and offer reflections on how the experiences of families in Türkiye may be similar to or differ from those of families in Hong Kong.

About the speaker:
Dr Özdemir received his master's and doctoral degrees in Speech and Language Therapy from Anadolu University, Türkiye. During his doctoral studies, he was a visiting scholar at the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Research Unit at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. Since 2021, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Language Therapy at Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Türkiye. His research interests include language and fluency disorders. He is currently a visiting scholar at the University of Hong Kong, SAR, working on a project funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) under the 2219 International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program. The project, titled “A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Exploration of Parental Perceptions of Stuttering in Hong Kong and Türkiye,” is conducted under the supervision of Dr. Mehdi Bakhtiar.
 

~ All are welcome ~