se of non-invasive electric stimulation in stuttering treatment
- Conditions
- Stuttering
- Registration Number
- RBR-3mtt9vz
- Lead Sponsor
- aboratório de Neurociência e Comportamento da Universidade de Brasília
- Brief Summary
Introduction: Stuttering is a disorder of unknown origin, defined by repetition of sounds or syllables, prolongation of sounds and interruptions in speech flow, which might be due to impairments in motor planning. Transcranial direct current stimulation is a non-invasive brain modulation technique successfully used in rehabilitation and research. Methods: We examined the effect of bi-hemispheric tDCS over the inferior frontal cortices paired with speech exercises in improving the fluency of people who stutter. Eight participants were randomly assigned to real or sham stimulation groups in a parallel, double-blind trial. They performed fluency exercises under stimulation for five consecutive days and performances before and after intervention were compared. Results: Real stimulation significantly reduced the stutter duration up to six weeks after intervention and improved SSI-3 scores after one week. Although results showed a robust fluency time improvement, real stimulation did not significantly reduce the number of stuttered syllables. No psychosocial effects were observed after the intervention. Conclusions: These results support the efficacy of bi-hemispheric stimulation in improving speech flow and warrant further investigation of tDCS use in speech therapy.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Terminated
- Sex
- Not specified
- Target Recruitment
- Not specified
Native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese speaker; age between 18 to 55 years old; diagnosis of stuttering
Presence of speech disorders other than stuttering; Presence of non-corrected visual perceptual deficits; Presence of any auditory perceptual deficits; Presence of any reported neurological or psychiatric comorbidities; Use of medication with action upon the central nervous system; Presence of any contraindications to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) usage, such as seizures, in the medical history, intracranial metallic implants
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Intervention
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method