Network Connectivity and Temporal Processing in Adolescents Who Stutter

Subcortical Network Connectivity and Temporal Processing in Children With Persistent and Recovered Stuttering

The specific purpose of this clinical trial is to compare performance on rhythm perception and production tasks between children who stutter and children who do not stutter. The overall project also aims to investigate how performance on rhythm tasks may be related to brain activity (non-clinical trial).

Participants in the clinical trial portion of this study will complete rhythm discrimination and finger tapping experiments once a year for 3 years. The study team will compare performance between groups. Participants will also participate in the non-trial portion of the project that includes having magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) each year for 3 years.

Inclusion Criteria Children who stutter:

• English as primary language
• Current or past stuttering diagnosis

Inclusion Criteria Children who do not stutter:

• English as primary language

Exclusion Criteria Children who stutter:

• Diagnosed/under treatment for any neurological or psychiatric conditions
• Head trauma with loss of consciousness
• Major medical illness
• Hearing loss- Language/motor delay (below -2 standard deviations on standardized assessments)
• Face, motor, or reflex abnormalities

Exclusion Criteria Children who do not stutter:

• Personal or family history of stuttering
• Diagnosed/under treatment for any neurological or psychiatric conditions
• Head trauma with loss of consciousness
• Major medical illness
• Hearing loss
• Language/motor delay (below -2 standard deviations on standardized assessments
• Face, motor, or reflex abnormalities