Enhancing Speech Fluency With Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Developmental Stuttering

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Speech Disorders; Stuttering; Fluency Disorders
• Interventions: Behavioral: Fluency Training; Device: Anodal TDCS

• Registration Number: NCT02288598
• Lead Sponsor: University of Oxford

Brief Summary

This study aims to test whether the addition of transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) to speech fluency training results in improvements in speech fluency in adults with developmental stuttering. Half of the participants will receive anodal TDCS on five consecutive days, the other half will receive a sham stimulation for the same amount of time.

Detailed Description

Studies using TDCS have shown improvements in motor performance, and in expressive language skills in clinical and healthy populations. The benefits of single sessions of TDCS are short-lived. However, stimulation over multiple sessions can increase and prolong learning effects that can persist for several weeks after the end of the stimulation period. We aim to target left hemisphere frontal regions involved in speech production with TDCS, and to pair this stimulation with speech fluency training.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2014-09-30
• Study Start: 2014-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-11-06
• Study First Posted: 2014-11-11
• Primary Completion: 2016-03-14
• Study Completion: 2016-03-14
• Status Verified: 2017-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-01-30
• Last Update Posted: 2017-01-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Native speaker of English.
• Right handed.
• Participant has moderate to severe Developmental Stuttering (Stammering)

Exclusion Criteria

• Speech, language or communication disorder other than Developmental Stuttering.
• Sensory impairment (hearing loss or visual impairment)
• History of drug abuse.
• History of seizures
• History of a neurological or psychiatric illness.
• History of neurosurgical procedure.
• Currently taking certain prescription medications such as anti-depressants and anti-malarial medication (as these may lower the seizure threshold)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sham TDCS	Fluency Training	Participants will receive sham TDCS over the left inferior frontal cortex. Sham stimulation will involve 30 seconds stimulation at the beginning of the 20 minutes of speech fluency training (5 consecutive days).
Anodal TDCS	Fluency Training	Participants will receive anodal TDCS over the left inferior frontal cortex. TDCS will be delivered at 1milliampere (mA) intensity for 20 minutes during speech fluency training (5 consecutive days).
Anodal TDCS	Anodal TDCS	Participants will receive anodal TDCS over the left inferior frontal cortex. TDCS will be delivered at 1milliampere (mA) intensity for 20 minutes during speech fluency training (5 consecutive days).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline proportion of stuttering in speech sample	6 weeks post-treatment	Quantitative measurement of stuttering

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline on the Stuttering Severity Instrument version 4 (SSI-4)	6 weeks post-treatment	Standardised assessment of frequency and duration of stuttering and associated physical concomitants
Change from baseline on Overall Assessment of Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES)	6 weeks post-treatment	Standardised assessment of the functional impact of stuttering on a person's life

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Oxford; 🇬🇧 Oxford, United Kingdom