OASES Assessment
The Overall Assessment of the Speaker’s Experience of Stuttering (OASES) is a self-report assessment that examines how stuttering affects an individual’s communication, daily activities, and quality of life. It is designed for children ages 7 and older, adolescents, and adults.
Unlike assessments that measure observable stuttering behaviors, the OASES focuses on the speaker’s personal experiences. For graduate clinicians and newer speech-language pathologists (SLPs), it provides valuable information that may not be apparent during a traditional fluency evaluation.
What Does the OASES Assess?
The OASES examines four areas:
- Section I: General Information: Explores the speaker’s perceptions of stuttering, fluency, and communication abilities.
- Section II: Reactions to Stuttering: Examines emotional, behavioral, and cognitive reactions, including feelings, avoidance, and beliefs about stuttering.
- Section III: Communication in Daily Situations: Examines difficulties experienced during everyday communication, such as conversations, classroom discussions, and speaking with unfamiliar people.
- Section IV: Quality of Life: Explores how stuttering affects participation, relationships, and overall satisfaction with communication.
Together, these sections provide a more complete understanding of how stuttering affects the individual’s life.
Administering the OASES
The OASES includes three age-appropriate versions:
- OASES-S: School-age children, ages 7–12 (60 items)
- OASES-T: Teenagers, ages 13–17 (80 items)
- OASES-A: Adults, ages 18 and older (100 items)
The assessment typically takes 15–20 minutes to complete. Individuals respond to questions using five-point rating scales that vary depending on the item.
Follow the administration and scoring guidelines in the manual. When reviewing responses, consider how the individual experiences stuttering across different environments and communication situations.
Clinical Tip: The OASES is completed from the speaker’s perspective. Avoid interpreting responses solely through caregiver or clinician observations. Discuss meaningful responses with the individual to better understand their experiences and priorities.
Scoring and Interpreting OASES Results
The OASES provides an Impact Score for each of the four sections and an Overall Impact Score. These scores correspond to five impact ratings:
- Mild
- Mild-to-moderate
- Moderate
- Moderate-to-severe
- Severe
Higher scores indicate greater reported negative impact from stuttering. However, these ratings describe the speaker’s experiences, not the frequency or severity of observable stuttering behaviors. Two individuals with similar stuttering patterns may report very different levels of impact.
I recommend looking beyond the Overall Impact Score and examining individual sections and responses. For example, a student may report relatively little difficulty with everyday conversations but significant concerns about public speaking.
Clinical Tip: Individual responses can be especially helpful when developing meaningful treatment goals. Rather than focusing exclusively on fluency, consider the speaker’s communication confidence, participation, comfort, and personal priorities.
How Does the OASES Compare to the SSI-4?
The OASES and Stuttering Severity Instrument–Fourth Edition (SSI-4) provide different but complementary information.
The SSI-4 measures observable stuttering behaviors, including frequency, duration, and physical concomitants. The OASES examines the speaker’s reactions, communication experiences, and perceived impact of stuttering.
A student may demonstrate mild observable stuttering on the SSI-4 while reporting substantial communication difficulties on the OASES. These findings are not necessarily contradictory; they describe different aspects of stuttering. When appropriate, using both assessments can provide a more comprehensive picture.
Writing an OASES Evaluation Report
When documenting OASES results, include the version administered, relevant Impact Scores and ratings, meaningful response patterns, and how stuttering affects the individual’s daily communication.
Example: Fluency Evaluation Report
The following is a hypothetical example.
“The student completed the OASES-T to examine the perceived impact of stuttering on communication and daily activities. Results indicated a moderate overall impact, with greater difficulties reported during classroom presentations and conversations with unfamiliar individuals. The student described avoiding certain speaking situations despite demonstrating relatively mild observable stuttering during the evaluation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing communication participation, confidence, and the student’s personal goals.”
This example demonstrates how the OASES can reveal communication needs that may not be apparent from observable stuttering behaviors alone.
For additional documentation guidance, see my Speech and Language Report Writing article.
Need Help Writing Your Stuttering Evaluation Report?
My Stuttering Assessment Report Templates: SSI-4 & OASES include editable companion templates for both assessments, along with goal banks and recommendations.
Designed for SLPs, clinical fellows, and graduate clinicians, these resources help organize findings and write clear, individualized fluency evaluation reports.
These templates are companion resources and do not include or replace the standardized assessments.
Final Thoughts
The OASES provides valuable insight into the speaker’s experiences with stuttering, including reactions, everyday communication, and quality of life. Combined with observable fluency measures and clinical observations, it can help guide meaningful, individualized intervention.
The goal is not simply to measure stuttering, but to understand how the individual experiences communication and what matters most to them.