The Development of Stuttering in Young Children

Launched by MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · Aug 27, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on understanding why some young children who stutter are able to "grow out" of it, while others continue to struggle. Researchers are looking for children aged 3 to 6 years, both those who currently stutter and those who do not, to participate in the study. To be eligible, children should primarily speak English and have no history of certain medical conditions, like neurological diseases or intellectual impairments. They should also pass a hearing test and not be on medications that could affect their performance.

Participants in the study will take part in fun, child-friendly activities while researchers assess their speech and language skills. These activities include describing pictures, speaking in virtual-reality scenarios, and talking while keeping a beat. Throughout the study, researchers will also monitor the children’s brain activity using special caps. This research aims to help us better understand stuttering in young children and could lead to improved support and interventions for those who need it.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria for controls:
• • English as first/primary language
• • No history of neurological disease
• • Normal or corrected visual acuity
• • No medications expected to affect performance
• • No intellectual impairment, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD
• • Age-appropriate scores on speech and language assessment battery
• • Pass hearing screening at 20 dB at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000, bilaterally
• Inclusion Criteria for children who stutter:
• • English as first/primary language
• • No history of neurological disease
• • Normal or corrected visual acuity
• • No medications expected to affect performance
• • No intellectual impairment or ASD Scores on speech and language assessments indicating stuttering, phonological (speech sound), or language disorders
• • Pass hearing screening at 20 dB at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000, bilaterally