The Foundation is turning its attention more and more to various facets of basic research.

Brain Research

Neuroimaging studies have greatly enhanced the potential to understand brain-behavior relationships in complex behaviors such as speech and language. Research efforts are expanding which should provide information to develop targeted behavioral and pharmacological interventions, and may lead to earlier detection of individuals at risk for developmental stuttering. The Foundation is promoting this research in various ways.

Genetic Research

Finding the genes involved in stuttering and understanding what they do in people who stutter and in those who are normally fluent holds the promise of revealing some of the underlying causes of stuttering.

The following articles may be of interest:

November 06, 2024

Insights into the Fundamental Mechanisms of Brain Function

By Shahriar SheikhBahaei, Ph.D.

July 31, 2023

New Gene Findings Point to Brain Cell Type in Stuttering

By Dennis Drayna, Ph.D.

September 27, 2016

Stuttering: Why we need a broader view to help children (and adults) who stutter

By Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D., University of Maryland, College Park

May 11, 2016

Differences in the Brains of People Who Stutter

By Kate Watkins, Ph.D., St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford

April 07, 2016

Future Research and Clinical Directions in Stuttering: Global Considerations

By Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., University of Illinois and Tel Aviv University

January 25, 2016

It’s Not Stuttering, But What Is It?

By Kyra Swick, Vivian Sisskin, M.S., and Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D., University of Maryland, College Park (Winter 2016)

October 09, 2015

The Evidence Is In — One Size Does Not Fit All

By Marie-Christine Franken, Ph.D., Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Fall 2015)

May 05, 2015

My client isn’t fluent – but is it stuttering?

Atypical Disfluency - Part 2 By Vivian Sisskin, M.S., and Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D. University of Maryland In the last column, we began to tackle the increasingly reported cases of children who are referred for “stuttering,” but whose fluency profiles do not comfortably fit conventional definitions. We started by discussing children who seem to have language formulation problems, rather than

January 29, 2015

This Child Isn’t Fluent — Is It Stuttering Or Something Else?

By Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D., University of Maryland (Winter 2015)

September 29, 2014

Stress & Stuttering

By Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D., University of Maryland (Fall 2014)

June 04, 2014

But Wait, There's More (not to like about Reilly et al. study)

Also see First Year of Stuttering by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D. This column is in response to an article published in Pediatrics titled Natural History of Stuttering to 4 Years of Age reporting a study conducted in Australia by Reilly, Onslow, Packman, et al. (2013). By Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D., University of Maryland I would like to offer a distinctly different

May 22, 2014

Update from Purdue

By Christine Weber-Fox, Ph.D. and Anne Smith, Ph.D. (Summer 2014)

January 03, 2014

First Year of Stuttering

Also see But Wait, There's More by Nan Bernstein Ratner, Ed.D. By Ehud Yairi, Ph.D. University of Illinois and Tel Aviv University An article entitled Natural History of Stuttering to 4 years of age reporting a study conducted in Australia by Reilly, Onslow, Packman, et al. (2013), was recently published in the journal Pediatrics and has caused an unusual wave

October 15, 2013

New Assessment Tool for Use with Parents

By Sharon Millard Ph.D. (Fall 2013)

January 15, 2013

Brain Development in Stuttering

By Deryk S. Beal, Ph.D. (Winter 2013)

September 04, 2012

Is Language a Risk Factor in Stuttering?

By Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., Emeritus Faculty, University of Illinois A person’s stuttering is not random. Linguistic factors have been considered relevant to stuttering especially since early research (Brown, 1937, 1945) demonstrated their strong influence on the occurrence of stuttering events, or “moments of stuttering,” in specific locations of the speech stream (e.g., the beginning of sentences and phrases) and in

June 19, 2012

Advances in Our Understanding of Adult Neurogenic Stuttering

By Luc De Nil, Ph.D., and Catherine Theys, M.Sc. (Summer 2012)

June 18, 2012

Surprising Pathway Implicated in Stuttering

By Stuart A. Kornfeld, M.D. (Winter 2012)

June 15, 2012

Interaction of Both Sides of the Brain in Adults Who Stutter

by Martin Sommer, M.D. (Fall 2011)

August 23, 2011

Using Brain Imaging to Unravel the Mysteries of Stuttering

by Soo-Eun Chang, Ph.D. (Aug. 23, 2011)

June 01, 2011

Preschool Male to Female Data

(Summer 2011)

January 01, 2011

Brain Development in Children Who Stutter

Brain Development in Children Who Stutter Sex differences in brain development underlying recovery versus persistence in developmental stuttering By Soo-Eun Chang, Ph.D.Michigan State UniversityIt is well known that stuttering occurs in many more males than in females, but we know very little about what might be the basis for such skewed sex ratio in stuttering. In children who have just

September 01, 2010

Feedforward Strategy In Children

Feedforward Strategy in Children Investigating the use of a feedforward motor strategy in the speech of children who stutter Rick Arenas, M.A.Doctoral Candidate, University of Iowa There are two primary strategies that people use when performing any sort of motor task, including speech: feedback and feedforward. Feedback relies on moment-to-moment sensory awareness of system output so that ongoing operations can

January 01, 2010

Neurobiology of Stuttering: Are There Distinct Subtypes?

By Anne L. Foundas, M.D. (Winter 2010)

September 01, 2009

Childhood Stuttering

by Hayley S. Arnold, Ph.D., Purdue University (Fall 2009)

September 01, 2009

Introduction to Cognitive Therapy

by Jane Fry, MSc (Psych Couns)., Dip CT (Oxon), Michael Palin Centre (Fall 2009)

June 01, 2009

The Impact of ADHD on Stuttering Therapy

The Impact of ADHD on Stuttering Therapy From the Stuttering Foundation's Summer 2009 newsletter. By Joseph Donaher, Ph.D., The Center for Childhood Communication, The Childrenƒ??s Hospital of Philadelphia The role of genetic factors in the onset and maintenance of stuttering has received considerable attention. Multiple studies have shown that stuttering runs in families and that approximately 70% of the variance

June 01, 2009

Research on Electronic Devices: Preliminary Results

Research onElectronic Devices: Preliminary Results From the Stuttering Foundation's Summer 2009 newsletter. By Anne L. Foundas, M.D., and Edward G. Conture, Ph.D. Developmental stuttering has a lifetime incidence (i.e., percentage of adults who stuttered at some point) of nearly 5% and is one of the more common developmental speech disorders. Although the disorder significantly impacts the academic, emotional, social and

January 01, 2009

Clinical Trials and Cognitive Therapy

Clinical Trial on Cognitive Behavior Therapy?ÿ By Susan Block, Ph.D. Social anxiety (i.e. anxiety arising in social encounters) cannot be overlooked in the management of chronic stuttering. The evidence for a relationship between anxiety and stuttering is considerable. Adults who stutter have reported high levels of trait, state, and social anxiety on standard measurement instruments (Hancock & Craig, 1998; Kraaimaat

September 01, 2008

New Look at Stuttering and Emotions

New Look at Stuttering and Emotions By Edward G. Conture, Ph.D.Vanderbilt University We are grateful to the SFA for providing us this space to tell you about the progress of Vanderbiltƒ??s Developmental Stuttering Project. In an inter-disciplinary collaboration with a developmental psychologist, Dr. Tedra Walden, and support from NIHƒ??s National Institute on Deafness and Other Commun ication Disorders, we have

June 01, 2008

New Research from Purdue

by Anne Smith, Ph.D. (Summer 2008)

June 01, 2008

Temperament Can Underlie "Signature Strengths" in Children Who Stutter

Temperament Can Underlie "Signature Strengths" in Children Who Stutter From the Stuttering Foundation's 2008 summer newsletter By Patricia M. Zebrowski, Ph.D.University of IowaA number of years ago, I became interested in the study of ƒ??Positive Psychologyƒ?? (Seligman, 2002 ) as it may be applied to helping children who stutter and their parents uncover and appreciate the strengths they bring to

January 04, 2008

Communication disorders and temperament

An article about Dr. Jerome Kagan's seminar, The Nature of Human Temperament, by Lisa Scott, Ph.D. (Winter 2008)

January 01, 2008

Research in Pakistan moves forward

by Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. (Winter 2008)

January 01, 2008

Atypical cerebral laterality: Neural Risk for Stuttering?

Atypical Cerebral Laterality:Neural Risk for Stuttering? By Anne L. Foundas, M.D. Tulane University Health Sciences Center From the Stuttering Foundation's?ÿwinter 2008?ÿnewsletter Editorƒ??s note: The Stuttering Foundation is pleased to support Dr. Foundasƒ?? new research. Atypical cerebral laterality was proposed as a potential central defect in developmental stuttering in 1927 when Orton wrote that stuttering may be the result of incomplete

January 01, 2008

Neurological Incidents May Cause stuttering

Neurological incidents as background factors in developmental stuttering By Per Alm, Ph.D. Lund University, Sweden,and The Stuttering Information Center of Denmark From the Stuttering Foundation's winter 2008 newsletter Several studies of heredity and genetics have shown that genes play an important role in the causal background of stuttering. In addition, these studies have shown that non-genetic factors also play a

September 01, 2007

Recent study reports on SpeechEasy use within extra-clinical environments

by Ryan Pollard, John B. Ellis, M.S., Don Finan, Ph.D., and Peter R. Ramig, Ph.D. (Fall 2007)

September 01, 2007

Searching For Predictors of Chronic Stuttering

Searching for predictors of chronic stuttering Anne Smith, Ph.D., Purdue University From the Stuttering Foundation's 2007?ÿfall newsletter I am pleased to have this opportunity to update you on the progress of the Purdue Stuttering Project over the past year. You may recall from my earlier article that we are engaged in a longitudinal study of young children who stutter and

September 01, 2007

Auditory Cortex, Altered Auditory Feedback and Developmental Stuttering

by Anne L. Foundas, M.D., and Edward G. Conture, Ph.D. (Fall 2007)

June 01, 2007

Is stuttering characterized by subtypes?

Is stuttering characterized by subtypes? Ehud Yairi, Ph.D.University of?ÿ Illinois With few exceptions, every entity in the universe can find its place?ÿwithin a system of classification.?ÿ These have an important role in?ÿthe organization and enhancement of knowledge.?ÿ Although certain?ÿfeatures of stuttering are relatively consistent, such as the age at?ÿonset of the disorder and the presence of certain core speech?ÿdisfluencies, there

June 01, 2007

Studies in a unique community give new genetic insights into stuttering

by Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. (Summer 2007)

September 01, 2006

New Windows on Stuttering Onset

New windows on the onset of stuttering By Anne Smith, Ph.D.,Purdue University In July of this year, I was honored to be a keynote speaker at the?ÿmeeting of International Fluency Association in the wonderful city of?ÿDublin, Ireland. In my talk, ƒ??Physiological Indices of Speech and?ÿLanguage Processes: New Windows on the Onset of Stuttering in Young?ÿChildren,ƒ?? I reviewed some of the

September 01, 2006

Is Language A Risk Factor in Stuttering?

Is language a risk factor in stuttering? By Ehud Yairi, Ph.D.,University of Illinois A personƒ??s stuttering is not random. Linguistic factors have been?ÿconsidered relevant to stuttering especially since early research?ÿ(Brown, 1937, 1945) demonstrated their strong influence on the?ÿoccurrence of stuttering events, or ƒ??moments of stuttering,ƒ?? in?ÿspecific locations of the speech stream (e.g., the beginning of?ÿsentences and phrases) and?ÿ in words

June 01, 2006

New Light on Genetic Factors

New light on genetic factors By Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. NIDCD Studies in Pakistan over the past few years have added new impetus?ÿto research on genetic factors in stuttering.?ÿ Research at the?ÿNational Institutes of Health has recently identified a specific?ÿlocation for a gene that seems to be an important contributor to?ÿstuttering in this population.?ÿ Scientists have found that this gene?ÿresides on

June 01, 2006

Genetics of Stuttering: New Developments

Genetics of stuttering: New developments By Ehud Yairi, Ph.D. University of Illinois For a long period, information on the familiality of stuttering was?ÿprimarily based on data concerning the percent of people who stutter?ÿhaving relatives with histories of stuttering. This figure has varied?ÿfrom 20% to 74%.?ÿ Although it is apparent that stuttering runs in?ÿfamilies, this fact, in-and-by itself, is insufficient to

January 01, 2006

Age is among the strongest risk

by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Winter 2006)

January 01, 2006

Stuttering and The Basal Ganglia

by Per Alm, Ph.D., University of Alberta (Winter 2006)

January 01, 2006

Genetic and Neurological Factors in Stuttering

A look at genetic and neurological correlates of stuttering By Lisa Scott, Ph.D.The Florida State University In November, four of the leading scientists in stuttering presented their latest research at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention in San Diego. Participating in a session entitled, ƒ??Genetic and Neurological Correlates of Stuttering,ƒ?? were Drs. Dennis Drayna, NIDCD, Christine Weber-Fox, Purdue University, Ann Foundas

September 01, 2005

Newly Discovered Families Give Impetus to Genetics Research

Newly discovered families give impetus to genetics research By Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. Recent research in Cameroon, West Africa, has uncovered the?ÿ existence of an entire group of previously unknown families in which?ÿ stuttering occurs as a simple inherited trait. Through the?ÿ cooperation of the Speak Clear Association of Cameroon (SCAC) and the?ÿStuttering Home Page maintained at Mankato State University, researchers

September 01, 2005

On the Gender Factor in Stuttering

On the Gender Factor in Stuttering By Ehud Yairi, Ph.D.?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ Gender is one of the strongest predisposing factors for?ÿ stuttering in that the disorder affects many more males than?ÿ females.?ÿ In older children and adults the male-to-female ratio is?ÿlarge, about 4 to 1 or greater (Craig, et al., 2002).?ÿ Except for the?ÿhigher incidence, until recently no major gender differences, either?ÿin

June 01, 2005

Research on Incidence and Prevalence of Stuttering

by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Summer 2005)

June 01, 2005

Speaking Is No Small Task

by Anne Smith, Ph.D., Purdue University (Summer 2005)

January 01, 2005

DAF in Stuttering: A Potential Anatomical Link

by Anne L. Foundas, MD (Winter 2005)

June 01, 2004

Genetic Studies Gain Ground

(Summer 2004)

September 01, 2003

Stuttering Foundation Hails New Research

Scientists find evidence for gene that predisposes individuals to stuttering. (Fall 2003)

June 01, 2003

Delayed Auditory Feedback

Delayed Auditory Feedback Most Helpful for Those Who Stutter with Atypical Auditory Anatomy (American Academy of Neurology-) Researchers in New Orleans have identified a subset of stutterers that may benefit most from delayed auditory feedback (a technique by which the original acoustic speech signal is artificially modified and then fed back via headphones). Findings of their study were presented at

July 01, 2002

Medical Aspects of Stuttering

Medical Aspects of Stuttering Glyndon Riley, Ph.D.?ÿProfessor EmeritusCalifornia State University, Fullerton If a medication is developed that is useful for people who stutter, it will not be a "cure" that can work in the absence of other forms of therapy. There is a rationale for including some medical aspects of stuttering in our diagnosis and treatment protocols, but not for

January 01, 2002

Recent Developments

Recent Developments HighlightGenetic Causes in Speech Disorders by Dennis Drayna, PhDNational Institute on Deafness andOther Communication DisordersNational Institutes of Health Stuttering has long been known to cluster in families, and much evidence has accumulated that genetic factors help cause stuttering in some cases. However, the lack of clear inheritance patterns in stuttering has made genetic studies slow and difficult. A

June 01, 2001

Are the Brains of People Who Stutter Different?

Are the Brains of PeopleWho Stutter Different? By Anne L. Foundas, MDAssociate Professor of NeurologyDepartment of Psychiatry and NeurologyTulane University For the past four years, our research group has been interested in learning more about the biological basis of stuttering. In earlier studies, our group and others have found that specific brain regions that mediate speech, language and motor functions

September 01, 2000

Alprazolam, Citalopram, and Clomipramine for Stuttering

A Study by Dr. John Paul Brady (Fall 2000)

June 01, 2000

Neural Bases of Stuttering and its Treatment

An article by Robert Kroll and Luc F. De Nil. (Summer 2000)

December 01, 1999

Research Studies Interaction of Language and Motor Processing in Stuttering

A new and exciting look at stuttering in relation to language and motor processing by Anne Smith, Ph.D., Purdue University. (Winter 1999-2000)

December 01, 1999

Treating Coexisting Stuttering, Language, and Phonology Disorders

If your child has been in speech therapy for a problem other than stuttering but has begun to stutter, you should read the article by Nancy E. Hall, Ph.D. (Winter 1999-2000)

December 01, 1999

Research in Early Childhood Stuttering

by Ehud Yairi. (Winter 1999-2000)

PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine, provides access to over 11 million citations from MEDLINE and additional life science journals. PubMed includes links to many sites providing full text articles and other related resources.