The effects of parental speech rate in children who stutter

Demirsoy Demirci E. N., Tığrak T. K., Kayıkcı M. E. K.

Journal of Communication Disorders, vol.117, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 117
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2025.106554
  • Journal Name: Journal of Communication Disorders
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CINAHL, Communication & Mass Media Index, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Linguistic Bibliography, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo
  • Keywords: Parental speech rate, Stuttering frequency, Stuttering severity
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Introduction: The study aims to examine the relationship between changes in parental speech rate and stuttering severity, frequency and speech rate in children who stutter (CWS). Additionally, it also examines the difference between the speech rate of parents of CWS and that of parents of children who do not stutter (CWNS). Method: The study included 46 CWS aged between 3 and 6 years and 46 CWNS of the same age and gender, together with their respective parents. Interactive parent-child speech recordings were collected and used to assess speech rate, severity, and frequency of stuttering in CWS and their parents, whereas these recordings were only used to assess speech rate in CWNS and their parents. Result: The study suggests that there may be a significant relationship between parents’ slowing the speech rate and a reduction in the severity and frequency of stuttering in CWS. It is also found that there is no significant difference in the speech rate between parents of CWS and CWNS. Conclusion: The findings indicate that parents’ speech rate should be considered in the assessment and may be implemented in the treatment of stuttering.