Norm Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Cantonese Version of the Behavior Assessment Battery (BAB) for Stuttering in Children

ABSTRACT

Stuttering, a neurodevelopmental speech disorder, causes involuntary disruptions in speech flow. It affects about 5–8% of children and persists in 1% of the population, potentially impacting 70,000 children and adults in Hong Kong. Persistent stuttering negatively affects emotional well-being, communication confidence, social participation, and quality of life.

Early identification and comprehensive assessment are crucial for appropriate intervention and family support. Assessment should include children’s emotional reactions to speaking, perceived speech disruption, coping and avoidance behaviors, and communication attitudes. These factors influence participation, treatment needs, and intervention response.

The Behavior Assessment Battery for School-Age Children Who Stutter (BAB) is a multidimensional self-report test that assesses the Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive dimensions of stuttering. It includes the Speech Situation Checklist–Emotional Reaction and Speech Disruption sections, the Behavior Checklist, and the Communication Attitude Test. These measures evaluate emotional reactions across speaking situations, perceived speech disruption, behavioral responses to stuttering, and attitudes towards communication and speech ability for children aged 6–15 years (Brutten & Vanryckeghem, 2007).

The BAB, despite its potential clinical value, needs linguistic and cultural adaptation for Cantonese-speaking children in Hong Kong. Normative data from other contexts may not reflect local children’s communication experiences, attitudes, or stuttering responses. This project develops normative data for the BAB for Cantonese-speaking children and evaluates its psychometric properties, including reliability, validity, and stuttering differentiation. A validated Cantonese version with local norms will enable culturally appropriate assessment and intervention planning for children who stutter in Hong Kong.

Brutten, G. J., & Vanryckeghem, M. (2007). Behavior Assessment Battery for School-Age Children Who Stutter (BAB). Plural Publishing.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Motivation, interpersonal skills, and experience in data collection from children are preferred but not mandatory.