How Iranian Speech-Language Pathologists Represent Stuttering on Instagram: A Mixed-Methods Study
Amir Hossein Rasoli Jokar, Morvarid Moazzamvahid, Zahra Memari, Saba Azimi, Hamed Fattahian TehranPurpose:
This study examined how Iranian speech-language pathologists (SLPs) represented stuttering on Instagram, with specific attention to message content, framing, and alignment with evidence-based practice (EBP).
Method:
A structured hashtag search on a non–logged-in device identified 507 posts from public Instagram accounts of self-identified Iranian SLPs over 6 months; after removing duplicates and irrelevant content, 315 stuttering-focused posts remained. Quantitative analyses included content-type coding, a four-dimension EBP alignment score, and a framing index from medicalized to neurodiversity affirming. Thematic analysis was done for message contents.
Results:
Therapy-focused posts dominated (47%), followed by parental guidance (25%) and educational explanations (13%). Framing scores reflected a strongly medicalized narrative, with few acceptance-oriented messages. EBP alignment scores showed moderate alignment (
Conclusions:
Iranian SLPs' Instagram communication reflected a culturally specific, clinician-centered, and predominantly medicalized portrayal of stuttering. Although many posts aligned with contemporary evidence, notable inconsistencies and oversimplifications persist. These findings highlight the need for culturally grounded, evidence-aligned digital communication strategies that balance clinical guidance with stigma-reducing and acceptance-oriented messaging.
Supplemental Material: