The relation between stuttering and phonological ability: A longitudinal investigation

There is a substantial amount of literature reporting that the incidence of phonological difficulties is higher for children who stutter when compared to normally fluent children. Much of this information, therefore, has suggested a link specifically between stuttering and disordered phonology. The purpose of this investigation is to examine longitudinally the relation between these two disorders. In other words, does the level of phonological ability have an effect on the initial specific characteristics of stuttering, and, as stuttering and phonological skills develop, what is the relation between phonological progress and changes in stuttering? More specifically, are particular disfluency patterns present near the onset of stuttering in children with good and poor phonological skills, and, as stuttering and phonological abilities develop, what is the association between phonological growth and disfluency changes? Twenty-nine preschool children near the onset of stuttering were carefully selected to participate in this investigation, and were divided into two groups based on the level of phonological ability (good and poor). Results revealed no statistically significant differences in the stuttering characteristics of children with good and poor phonology. Furthermore, inspection of the longitudinal data revealed substantial individual variability, calling into the question the nature of this possible stuttering-phonology link.; This research was supported by research grant number R01-DC00459 from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health; principal investigator, Ehud Yairi.