Noninvasive brain stimulation to reduce stuttering in adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This pilot interventional protocol uses HD-tDCS targeted to brain regions involved in speech to see if short-term stimulation reduces stuttering errors. Participants complete an online survey about 24 hours before a single ~3-hour in-person visit that includes pre-testing (stuttering severity assessment and a set of speaking and non-speaking tasks), a session of HD-tDCS, and post-stimulation tasks; all parts are audio-recorded. Stuttering severity is categorized using the Stuttering Severity Instrument-4 and speech performance is measured by counts of repetitions, blocks, and prolongations during tasks. The pilot is designed to generate preliminary data to guide future targeted neuromodulation treatments and experimental design rather than to establish long-term efficacy.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Must be 22 years old or older
* May be bi/multilingual but must speak English as dominant language.
* Must be diagnosed or suspected of developmental stuttering disorder. Participants will be administered the Stuttering Severity Instrument 4 and categorized as typical speakers or mild, moderate, or severe stutterers.
* Must be able to attend the session at the physical location within the clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with preexisting speech/language disorders or previously diagnosed neurological disorders (including but not limited to apraxia of speech, cerebral palsy, dysarthria, tourettes, or any other neurological/motor condition) that affect speech/language (except stuttering) are excluded to minimize the interference of atypical brain activity.
* Participants who have acquired or neurogenic stuttering (stuttering resulting from a brain injury) are excluded, as this study focuses exclusively on the effects of developmental stuttering.
* Participants with a history of seizures
* Participants with unexplained episodes of loss of consciousness, since such condition could be related with brain alterations or epilepsy
* Participants with unstable or non controlled neuropsychiatric illness
* Participants having implanted brain medical devices
* Participants with implanted pacemakers
* Participants having any electrically,magnetically or mechanically activated implant
* Participants having cardiac, neural or medication implants
* Participants having vascular clips or any other electrically sensitive support system in the brain
* Participants with serious brain injury
* Participants showing damage of skin at sites of stimulation (the device can only be used in healthy skin without wounds, otherwise the resistance to current can be altered)
* Participants suffering from skin problems, such as dermatitis, psoriasis or eczema
* Participants suffering from severe or frequent headaches
* Participants with any serious life-threatening disease such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary obstructive chronic disease, or active neoplasia
* Pregnant women
* Participants may not consume alcohol or controlled substances within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment

Participants will complete an additional screener upon enrollment to assess medical history and current drug/medication use that may conflict with the study.

Where it's running

• Callier Clinical Research Center
  Richardson, Texas, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Christine H Abasi, MS-SLP
• Email: Christine.abasi@utdallas.edu
• Phone: 8177187301

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Desensitization-Based Program to Help Adults Who Stutter Improve Job Interview Skills

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• Noninvasive Thalamocortical Stimulation for Stuttering

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• Effects of psilocybin on speech for adults who stutter

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  Recruiting Phase 2 NYU Langone Health · New York, New York · NCT07296328

• Reducing stuttering with mild brain stimulation plus speech therapy

  We will test whether mild electrical brain stimulation (tDCS) combined with speech therapy can reduce stuttering severity in adults who stutter.

  Recruiting NYU Langone Health · New York, New York · NCT07222163

• Motor brain circuits for speech production in adults who stutter

  We will use MRI while adults who stutter speak to test how motor brain areas and their connections work during continuous speech.

  Recruiting University of Michigan · Ann Arbor, Michigan · NCT07180628

• Understanding why some children outgrow stuttering while others do not

  This study looks at why some kids aged 3-6 outgrow stuttering while others don’t by testing their speech and language skills through fun activities over several years.

  Recruiting Michigan State University · East Lansing, Michigan · NCT06578416

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.