Noninvasive brain stimulation to reduce stuttering in adults
Examining Speech Production Errors in Stuttering Through High Definition - Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
This project will try high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to see if it reduces repetitions, blocks, and prolongations in English-dominant adults who stutter.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 22 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas at Dallas Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Richardson, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT07354139 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: English-dominant adults aged 22 or older with developmental stuttering who can attend the in-person clinic visit are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with acquired or neurogenic stuttering, other neurological speech/language disorders, or those unable to travel to the clinic are unlikely to receive benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, targeted HD-tDCS could temporarily reduce speech errors and help shape new treatments to improve fluency.
How similar studies have performed: Previous tDCS and other neuromodulation studies for stuttering are limited and show mixed but occasionally promising short-term effects, so this approach remains experimental.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 this trial is running
Richardson, Texas
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.