Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to validate a multidimensional model of stuttering using cognitive, affective, linguistic, motor, and social (CALMS) assessment instrument for Persian-speaking children who stutter. Method: The CALMS assessment instrument was translated to Persian (CALMS-P) using an IQOLA translation process. Content validity was examined by the content validity of individual items (I-CVI) and the overall scale (S-CVI). The CALMS-P was administered with 115 Persian-Speaking children who stutter (age 7-14 years, 92 boys and 23 girls). Construct validity was probed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using LISREL 8.8 and internal consistency was analyzed by Cronbach's alpha via SPSS 17 software. Results: CALMS-P was an 18-item Persian assessment instrument with five subscales measuring five dimensions of stuttering i.e. cognitive, affective, linguistic, motor and social components. The model provided a fair fit (chi 2 /df = 1.60; RMSEA=0.07) and a good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =0.85) for the total instrument. Conclusion: the CALMS-P assessment instrument which is based on the multidimensional model of stuttering proved to be a valid tool, useful for the therapists to assess and manage the stuttering of Persian-speaking children given the multifactorial perspective of stuttering.