Reducing stuttering with mild brain stimulation plus speech therapy
Official title: Stuttering and Neuromodulation
Run by NYU Langone Health · NCT07222163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will test whether mild electrical brain stimulation (tDCS) combined with speech therapy can reduce stuttering severity in adults who stutter.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 16 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | NYU Langone Health Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (New York, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 4, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07222163 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are right-handed English-speaking adults aged 18–65 with developmental stuttering and an SSI-4 score of 20 or higher who can attend all onsite sessions at NYU Langone.
✕Probably not a fit
People with a history of seizures or epilepsy, certain medications affecting cortical excitability, pregnancy, metal head implants, or sensitive skin near stimulation sites are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional pilot collects preliminary data on combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with standard speech therapy in adults with developmental stuttering. Participants who meet entry criteria will receive tDCS using a Soterix device alongside behavioral speech sessions while clinicians track stuttering severity and patient-reported impact. The study also measures neuroplastic changes, including regional brain activation and functional connectivity, to explore mechanisms of change. Enrollment is limited to right-handed, English-speaking adults aged 18–65 and is conducted at NYU Langone Health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined approach could reduce stuttering severity and lessen the negative impact on everyday communication for adults who stutter.
How similar studies have gone: Small prior trials of tDCS combined with speech therapy have reported mixed but promising preliminary improvements in fluency, though larger confirmatory studies remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adults aged 18 to 65 years. 2. Diagnosis of developmental stuttering, verified by a licensed speech-language pathologist. 3. Mild-to-moderate or greater stuttering severity, defined as a score of 20 or higher on the Stuttering Severity Instrument-Fourth Edition (SSI-4). 4. English as a primary language. 5. Right-handedness (to minimize variability in neural lateralization). 6. Willing and able to attend all study sessions and follow study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have a history of neurological, psychiatric, or medical conditions that are contraindicated for tDCS. 2. Are currently taking medications known to affect cortical excitability. 3. Have a history of seizures or epilepsy. 4. Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period. 5. Have metal implants in the head (excluding dental work) or other contraindications to electrical brain stimulation. 6. Any skin disorder or skin sensitive area near stimulation locations.
Where it's running
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NYU Langone Health
New York, New York, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Eric S. Jackson — NYU Langone Health
- Study coordinator: Eric S. Jackson
- Email: Ej34@nyu.edu
- Phone: 212-992-9470
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.