We are now 6 months into the EST-project and our
team has been incredibly busy planning the initial stages of the study! The
project leader is Professor Kari-Anne Bottegaard Næss from University of Oslo,
Norway. Joining Kari-Anne in the research team is Dr. Elaina Kefalianos from
University of Melbourne, Australia, Professor Arne Lervåg, from University of
Oslo, Dr. Elisabeth Holm Hansen from University College of Southeast Norway,
and Dr. Hilde Hofslundsengen from Western Norway University of Applied Science.
The project will involve collaboration with
several key partners including the municipality of Horten, Psychological
Institute University of Oslo, Speech and language therapist education of
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and of Nord University. Two interest
groups, Mental Helse
Ungdom (Mental Health Youth Norway) and Norsk
interesseforening for stamming og løpsk tale
(Norwegian Interest group for stuttering and cluttering) will also be involved
in the EST-project. We are delighted that both of these interest groups are
going to be involved, as they will contribute invaluably to dissemination of
the results and be important partners to discuss issues with in this
multidisciplinary project.
We would also like to take this opportunity to
introduce you to our international expert group comprised of world leaders in
the field of stuttering, language and literacy disorders: Professor Mark Onslow
from Australia, Professor Scott Yaruss from USA, and Professor Charles
Hulme from UK.
At the beginning of November, we had a working
seminar in Klitgården, Denmark. During this stay we prepared all of the collaboration
agreements and sent them to our research partners to be signed. We also commenced
work package 1 and began to complete the title registration proposal for the
meta-analysis. The aim of the meta-analysis is to identify the most efficacious
direct and indirect stuttering treatments available for preschool children. Findings
from this meta-analysis will inform the treatments that are trialed in the randomized
controlled trial in work package 2.
In January we hosted our first meeting with collaboration
partners and interest groups to discuss the timeline for the EST-project and to
conduct a SWOT analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses of the project
plan. We will post an update from the meeting shortly!
More soon, from the EST-project team!
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Kari-Anne
and Hilde at Klitgården, Denmark, November 2017
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