Language Research Study - Children who Stutter 7-12 years old

STUDY BASICS

Are you the parent of a child aged 7-12 who currently stutters? Your child may be able to participate in a research study that is looking at how speech and language skills develop and mature in the brain. This study will involve 3-4 sessions, each lasting about 2-3 hours. Compensation is provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of this research study is to understand how speech and language are processed in the brain. We are interested in knowing how these skills change over development and in different environments. This study will provide information that may help us understand how speech and language are processed in children and whether there may be differences between children who stutter and children who do not stutter. 

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD?

• Ages 7-12 years
• Native speaker of English
• General good health
• No significant hearing difficulties
• No history of neurological problems

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

The study will occurs over 3-4 sessions, depending on child age and temperament, and each session lasts approximately 2-3 hours.

• In the first session, your child will sit with a researcher and look at pictures, listen to or say words/sentences, follow silly instructions, and play some games on the computer.
• During the second session, your child will see pictures on a monitor and listen to sounds or stories. While they watch and listen, their brain activity will be recorded. The procedure is safe, painless, non-invasive, and involves no drugs of any kind.  
• The third session will involve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where children will listen to sounds or stories while laying still in the MRI machine.
• Parents will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires about their child.