Speech disfluencies in individuals with Tourette syndrome

Luc F. De Nil, Jayanthi Sasisekaran, Pascal H.H.M. Van Lieshout, Paul Sandor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the frequency and type of speech disfluencies in a relatively large group of individuals with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and to compare their results with similar speech data from a control group of unselected individuals. Method: Self-report data, as well as conversation and reading samples, were obtained from 69 children diagnosed with TS (mean age=12.49) and 27 control participants (mean age=10.9). Results: Self-report data on fluency difficulties did not reveal significant group differences; however, detailed analysis of fluency during reading and spontaneous speech revealed an overall higher level of more typical (normal) disfluencies in the TS group. No overall differences in less typical (stuttering) disfluencies were observed between the two groups of children. Conclusion: Results are discussed in light of previous studies proposing a common aetiology and neuropathological link between TS and developmental stuttering.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)97-102
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume58
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thanks Jessica Steinman, Katie Sharpe, and Sophie Lafaille for their assistance in data collection and analysis. This research was supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Bluma Appel TS Research Fund awarded to the first and fourth authors, respectively.

Keywords

  • Children
  • Speech disfluencies
  • Stuttering
  • Tourette's syndrome

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