Understanding what increases or reduces the impact of stuttering on kids
Official title: A multi-informant investigation of risk and protective factors underlying the development of stuttering’s adverse impact on children
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11412663 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant follows children who stutter over several years to see which factors in themselves or their surroundings make stuttering more or less harmful to their lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $627,300 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021946-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412663 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children who stutter and their families, with participation considerations for ages around 0-11 years and ongoing development through adolescence.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not experience adverse impacts from stuttering or whose families cannot participate long-term may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project tracks how stuttering-related difficulties develop as children grow, using information from kids, parents, and possibly teachers. Researchers will map a wide range of personal and environmental factors over time to see how they relate to adverse impacts on life, learning, and confidence. The study builds on existing data and uses a longitudinal design to capture changes and interactions among risk and protective factors. The goal is to identify moments when early support could prevent lasting challenges and to inform families and clinicians about helpful strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier, targeted supports that reduce long-term negative effects of stuttering on children’s lives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous longitudinal work supports that multiple factors shape stuttering outcomes, but this project extends understanding with a multi-informant approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walsh, Bridget M — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Walsh, Bridget M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.