NIH Research Study on Stuttering

Department of Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH Clinical Center

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Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are studying

DEVELOPMENTAL FLUENCY DISORDERS

Purpose of these research studies:

Determine if brain organization in children and adults who stutter is different from children and adults without a fluency disorder
Determine if brain organization changes occurring across development are different in children who stutter compared to children who do not stutter
Determine what areas of the brain are associated with fluent speech and disfluent speech in children and adults who stutter

You may qualify if

You are between 6 and 65 years of age,
You have been having fluency problems (stuttering) for more than six months
You are right-handed
You are a native monolingual speaker of American English
You have permission of one of your parents to participate in this study if you are less than 18 years old

You may not qualify if

You are taking medications affecting the central nervous system
You have a history of a neurological, hearing, or language disorder/delay
You have implanted metal objects or foreign bodies
You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

Place and Time

This outpatient study is located in the Clinical Center at the NIH, Bethesda campus and lasts for a period of 2-4 days for approximately 3-4 hours each day.

Cost

Persons admitted for study will have their hotel and travel expenses paid by NIH for the duration of their involvement.?ÿ Participants will also receive compensation for their time and inconvenience.

For more information, please call or write:

(301) 402-0482 or (301) 496-9365

Ask to speak to Dr. Soo-Eun Chang

(re: protocol 00-N-0095)

E-Mail:?ÿ changsoo@ninds.nih.gov

Soo-Eun Chang, Ph.D., NINDS, NIH, Building 10, Room 5D38, 10 Center Drive MSC 1416, Bethesda, MD 20892-1416.?ÿ Fax: (301) 480-0803

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Dave Taylor

Dave Taylor has been on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter for many years, but probably few people know all of the unique accomplishments of this former hockey great who was born on December 4, 1955, in Levack, Ontario.

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.

Emily Blunt

Actress Emily Blunt struggled with stuttering early in her life. A teacher encouraged her to act in a school play at age 12 despite her stuttering.

Blunt’s name is prominently featured on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter.

Ken Venturi

As much of the nation watches the U.S. Open Golf Championship, it is impossible not to think about our late friend Ken Venturi. Ken overcame many challenges to win the Open at Congressional in 1964 and go on to become the voice of golf for more than three decades.

However, Ken faced no bigger obstacle than stuttering. Ken Venturi was a champion to those who stutter, going out of his way to share his personal experience when consulted by a colleague, friend, or child who stutters.