Early planning for the EST-project

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!

 

Kari-Anne and Hilde at Klitgården, Denmark, November 2017