TOPIC

Fluency research

Everything we have read on fluency. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

96 PAPERS · PAGE 2 OF 2 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2023A novel non-word speech preparation task to increase stuttering frequency in experimental settings for longitudinal research.Journal of communication disordersA laboratory task using pairs of non-words reliably raised stuttering rates to 39% across multiple sessions. This increase did not carry over to normal conversation or reading afterwards, so the task can be used for research without worsening the patient's baseline speech.
• SLPCohort2023Language sample analysis of conversation samples from school-age children who stutter: The role of syntactic factors in stuttering.Journal of communication disordersSchool-age children who stutter used more complex sentence structures in shorter conversation samples than fluent peers. Higher syntactic complexity was associated with more stuttering. This suggests clinicians should assess language ability with caution, as stuttering itself may limit the sample size and complexity observed.
• SLPOther2023Profile of fluency in spontaneous speech, reading, and retelling of texts by adults who stutter.CoDASFor adults who stutter, reading aloud produced significantly fewer common disfluencies like hesitations and interjections than spontaneous speech or retelling. However, stuttering-specific behaviors and speech speed did not differ significantly across the three tasks. This suggests reading is less demanding for fluency.
• SLPOther2023Analysis of cumulative risk predictors for persistent stuttering: family perception and amount of speech disruptions.CoDASAcross 452 children, children with 3% or more disruptions and family complaints were mostly boys and differed from fluent children in disruption profiles. The study did not follow children over time, so it cannot predict persistent stuttering.
• SLPCase-Control2024Brain response to errors in children who stutter.Journal of fluency disordersChildren who stutter and children who do not stutter showed similar brain responses after errors on a button-press task. Parent-reported anxiety and communication attitudes also did not differ between groups.
• SLPQualitative2024Communicative practices and perceptions towards stuttering people in South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsFour adults who stutter described stigma and avoidance. Among 20 acquaintances, 15 finished their speech, 18 did not discuss it, and 17 had no knowledge, though all said they communicated normally.
• SLPCohort2024Mental state verb use in play by preschool-age children who stutter and their mothers.Journal of fluency disordersPreschoolers who stutter used mental state verbs like "think" and "know" at the same rate as their peers. However, unlike typical children, their use of these verbs did not increase with age or language skills, suggesting other factors may influence this communication flexibility.
• SLPSurvey2025Multiple-Community-Based Epidemiological Study of Stuttering among 3-Year-Old Children in Japan.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)At Japan's 3-year health checkups, 6.5% of children were stuttering and 8.9% had begun stuttering by the checkup. Family history, guardian concern, and diagnosed conditions were linked to stuttering.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2024Usefulness of automated tractography for outcome prediction in patients with recurrent stroke.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn three patients with recurrent stroke, automated brain scans identified specific nerve tract damage that matched their long-term recovery levels. Patients with widespread tract damage had poor outcomes, while those with limited damage regained independence, suggesting scans may help predict rehabilitation potential.
• SLPOther2024FluencyBank Timestamped: An Updated Data Set for Disfluency Detection and Automatic Intended Speech Recognition.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRVoice recognition and disfluency detection tools still struggle with stuttered speech, especially repetitions and more severe stuttering. The updated FluencyBank Timestamped data set gives researchers a way to test improvements.
• SLPNarrative Review2025Parental communication dynamics with children who stutter: A scoping review.International journal of language & communication disordersParents of children who stutter often avoid talking openly about stuttering because they fear making it worse or upsetting the child. Children want these conversations to reduce shame. Clinicians should coach parents on using neutral, simple language and inviting questions.
• SLPOther2025Exploring the activation of target words in adults who stutter with and without conscious intention to speak: ERP evidence.Journal of communication disordersWhen adults who stutter named pictures, their brain response to matching spoken words was similar to fluent adults, but spread less widely. Without naming, both groups showed similar responses. This is a lab finding, not therapy evidence.
• SLPCase Series2025Characterizing drug-induced stuttering in electronic health records.Journal of communication disorders22 possible drug-induced stuttering cases were found among 40 suspected records, most linked to antiseizure, stimulant, and antidepressant drugs. Sparse notes, no speech therapy referrals, and uncertain causality mean these are clues, not proof.
• SLPCohort2025Self-perception of stuttering: association with self-perception of hearing, fluency profile, and contextual aspects.CoDASAdults who stuttered rated their hearing difficulties as worse when they felt stuttering impacted their life more. Objective speech fluency counts did not track with these self-perceived impacts. Occupation was the only background factor linked to how much stuttering affected daily life.
• SLPOther2025Reimagining stuttering therapy and outcomes through an acceptance and collaborative lens.Journal of fluency disordersSix adults who stutter and work as speech-language pathologists describe a shift away from fluency goals toward acceptance and advocacy. They argue that hiding stuttering causes harm and that therapy should help clients communicate freely rather than eliminate disfluencies.
• SLPQualitative2025How I experienced tele-intervention: Qualitative insights from persons who stutter.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsEleven people who stutter in South Africa described tele-intervention as viable despite poor internet and power cuts. They valued flexibility and home comfort but preferred in-person therapy for better communication. All would recommend tele-intervention to others.
• SLPCase Series2025Online indirect group treatment for preschool children who stutter-Effects on stuttering severity and the impact of stuttering on child and parents.International journal of language & communication disordersFour of five parents reported increased confidence in managing their child's stuttering after an online group program. Three children showed reduced stuttering severity, but one worsened. Natural recovery and variability make it impossible to confirm the treatment caused these changes.
• SLPSurvey2025An Exploratory Comparison of Attitudes toward Stuttering and Cluttering of Chinese Practicing Speech and Language Therapists and SLT Students.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Chinese practicing speech therapists held more positive attitudes toward stuttering and cluttering than students in training. However, both groups showed more negative attitudes than global averages, particularly regarding causes and appropriate referral pathways.
• SLPOther2025Social validation of post-treatment outcomes of adults who stutter who participated in CARE Model treatment: replication and extension.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCommunication competence of 10 adults who stutter was rated higher after CARE Model treatment by ordinary people who watched videos. Stuttering severity ratings did not change.
• SLPOther2025Acknowledging a Stutter Affects the Impression One Makes in a Job Interview.International journal of language & communication disordersMock job applicants who stuttered but acknowledged it at the start were rated as well as those who did not stutter. Applicants who stuttered without acknowledging it were rated significantly lower. Early, neutral disclosure may help counteract interview bias.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Speech-Language Pathologists' Perceptions of Their Competence in Managing Stuttering: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis.International journal of language & communication disordersSpeech therapists feel less confident treating stuttering than assessing it. Confidence rises with more stuttering clients on caseloads and specific training like the Lidcombe Program, but drops when managing adults or complex co-occurring conditions.
• SLPOther2025Working memory capacity and rumination in adults who stutter.Journal of fluency disordersAdults who stutter and adults who do not stutter took similar time to discard irrelevant negative words from working memory. In the stuttering group, this task was not related to rumination. Depressive symptoms were linked to rumination.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Understanding the Perspectives of School Children Who Stutter: A Rapid Review.International journal of language & communication disordersMost research on children who stutter uses verbal interviews and written questions, often failing to offer choice in how children express themselves. Few studies capture the child's unique perspective on their speech, highlighting a need for multimodal tools like drawing and photography.
• SLPNarrative Review2025What's Love Got to Do With It? Reflections on the Role of Stuttering in Enabling and Enhancing Relationships.International journal of language & communication disordersNo original findings are reported. The article offers speech and language therapy ideas about vulnerability and relationships, not tested interventions.
• SLPCase Report2026The Experience of Adult-Onset Hearing Loss and Adaptation to a Cochlear Implant.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairA neurologist describes adapting to a cochlear implant after progressive hearing loss. Single-word recognition improved from 10% to 64% over four months, but music and spatial localization remained poor. The author notes that formal rehabilitation training is essential for adapting to synthetic sound.
• SLPCohort2025Cortical emotional reactivity, caregiver-reported emotional control, and stuttering frequency in young children.Journal of fluency disordersAmong children who stutter, higher stuttering frequency was associated with greater brain reactivity to unpleasant images and poorer caregiver-reported emotional control. These are correlations from a small sample, not evidence that emotions cause stuttering or that treating them reduces it.
• SLPQualitative2025Stakeholder Perspectives on the Responsible Innovation in Health Framework for Addressing Stigma-Based Health Inequalities Among People Who Stutter.International journal of language & communication disordersStakeholders designing stigma-reducing stuttering interventions prioritized secure platforms, professional delivery, accessible communication, diversity, engaging visuals and flexible group therapy. These ideas were rated for importance and practicality, not tested.
• SLPQualitative2025A Phenomenological Study Exploring the Perceptions of Parents and Children Participating in the Lidcombe Program for Early Stuttering in Turkiye.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Turkish parents and children described the Lidcombe Program as acceptable and emotionally helpful. Parents reported more one-to-one play, praise, and communication. Children disliked being asked to repeat bumpy speech. These are perceptions, not evidence of efficacy.
• SLPNarrative Review2025Challenges and Opportunities in Characterizing the Genetics of Stuttering: From Sample Acquisition to Functional Interpretation of the Genome.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRGenetic studies have linked stuttering to many common variants, but none prove a cause or change therapy. Speech-language pathologists can use this to counter stigma and support research, not to diagnose or treat stuttering.
• SLPOther2025Voice-Assisted Technology as a Potential Tool for Addressing Speech and Voice Concerns Experienced by People With Parkinson's Disease and Other Conditions Presenting With Dysarthria: A Scoping Review.International journal of language & communication disordersOff-the-shelf smart speakers may encourage clearer, louder speech in people with dysarthria, but recognition is unreliable and varies by severity. Therapists should use them cautiously for home practice, not as assessment tools, watching for frustration and bias.
• SLPOther2026Phoneme Manner Types and Function and Content Words as Biomarkers for Different Types of Stutters in Speakers Who Continue to Stutter.International journal of language & communication disordersWhole-word repetitions occur almost exclusively on function words starting with vowels, while prolongations and part-word repetitions cluster on content words starting with specific consonants. Grouping all stutter types together hides these distinct patterns.
• SLPSurvey2026Predictive Value of Mindfulness and Coping With Stress Styles on Depression, Anxiety and Stress Levels of Adults Who Stutter.International journal of language & communication disordersIn 47 adults who stutter, lower mindfulness and more frequent use of helpless or submissive coping styles predicted higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Active coping styles did not significantly predict these outcomes. Stuttering severity was not related to psychological distress.
• OTSLPOther2026Developmental stuttering with common and complex phenotypes.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost people who stutter present with a common phenotype. A distinct 10% subgroup has a complex presentation marked by severe stuttering, high rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, lower non-verbal intelligence, and greater negative impact. This group requires multidisciplinary support.
• SLPOther2026The Link Between Syntactic Complexity and Stuttering-Like Disfluencies in French Speaking Adults.International journal of language & communication disordersIn 12 French adults who stutter, disfluencies rose with longer and more complex sentences, but the link was weak. Sentence length tracked disfluencies best. This did not test treatment.
• SLPSurvey2026Analyzing the Attitudes of Teachers in Spain Toward Stuttering.International journal of language & communication disordersTeachers in Spain scored better on stuttering attitudes than the worldwide average, but many still blamed trauma, learning or illness for stuttering and rarely named genetics as a cause. Training and experience with students who stutter went together with better scores.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Long-Term Speech Outcomes in Moderate-to-Severe Childhood Speech Sound Disorder: A Systematic Review.International journal of language & communication disordersThe studies differ too much in how they define severity, when they reassess and what they measure to answer whether, or when, a moderate-to-severe childhood speech sound disorder resolves. Persistence was common in childhood apraxia of speech and speech-plus-language difficulties.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Indicators for evaluating public speaking in adults: a scoping review.CoDASThe rating scales used to judge adult public speaking are mostly homemade: 26 of 35 studies used indicators the researchers wrote themselves rather than a validated tool. Four areas recur anyway: how the talk is structured, nonverbal behaviour, voice, and language.
• SLPRCT2025Exploring the nature of stuttering through a behavioral-neuro-modulation intervention program in bilinguals with stuttering.CoDASTreating bilingual adults who stutter in their dominant or non-dominant language made no difference to how much they stuttered. Stuttered syllables fell in both Kannada and English, but everyone also got brain stimulation and fluency tasks and there was no untreated control group.
• SLPRCT2025Palin Stuttering Therapy for School aged Children and usual treatment: A randomised controlled trial feasibility study.Journal of fluency disordersChildren who got Palin therapy and children who got usual NHS care both improved on most measures, with no significant difference between the two. The only significant difference favoured Palin, on parents' knowledge and confidence. This pilot was not designed to show which therapy works.
• SLPSystematic Review2025A year in stuttering research: A systematic review of global representation and sociodemographic reporting practices in English-language journals in 2020.Journal of communication disordersIn 2020 stuttering research, 65.01% of participants were US-based, and only 22.8% of studies reported participant ethnicity. Gender was reported in 93.5% of studies. This is a review of reporting practices, not evidence about any treatment.
• SLPOther2026The role of social anxiety and attentional focus in a virtual reality environment on articulatory control in adults who stutter.Journal of fluency disordersIn adults who stutter, higher self-reported anxiety and greater skin conductance during a socially stressful speaking task predicted more variable lip movements, but where attention was directed did not. In fluent speakers, none of these factors predicted variability.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Risk factors and assessment methods for screening childhood-onset fluency disorders: a scoping review.CoDASAcross 11 studies of preschoolers, parental complaint of stuttering was the most frequently identified predictor of persistence, followed by family history, age at onset, and duration. No screening studies for cluttering in preschoolers were found, and the review captured only two formal screening instruments, both Brazilian.
• SLPSystematic Review2026The relationship between bullying and stuttering in schoolchildren: scoping review.CoDASA scoping review of 17 studies confirms children who stutter are bullied far more than peers, with lasting effects on self-esteem and social life. SLPs are named as key to addressing this, but no intervention has been proven effective.
• SLPOther2026Network Models for Assessing the Co-occurrence Between Stuttering and ADHD.International journal of language & communication disordersAttention, fluency, and phonological memory connect differently in adults who stutter versus those with ADHD or no condition. In stuttering, attention and phonological memory are not linked the same way, but fluency and phonological memory are more tightly connected. The formal test was not significant.
• SLPSystematic Review2026The Family History of Developmental Stuttering: A Scoping Review.International journal of language & communication disordersA scoping review found that published family history rates for stuttering range from 20.0% to 90.9% because studies count relatives differently. Family history remains a useful risk factor to ask about, but no single published rate should be treated as the definitive figure.
• SLPCohort2026Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Likert-Type Stuttering Severity Scale and the Visual Analog Scale in Turkish-Speaking Adults Who Stutter.International journal of language & communication disordersTrained speech-therapy students rated stuttering severity on a brief numerical scale and a 100-mm line, and both closely matched clinician SSI-4 scores. These quick tools could supplement detailed assessments in screening or research settings where time is limited.