Bihemispheric Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation* on Speech Fluency

Last updated: February 22, 2024
Sponsor: Biruni University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Speech Disorders

Communication Disorders

Treatment

Transcranial direct current stimulation

Clinical Study ID

NCT06278233
2023/85-70
  • Ages 18-60
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

It will be determined whether bihemispheric stimulation (anodal to the left IFG and cathodal to the right IFG) is used with fluency-facilitating conditions for 5 consecutive days in individuals with stuttering and whether there is a difference in terms of the effects seen in speech fluency compared to the sham condition.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • developmental stuttering
  • age between 18 and 60 years
  • right hand dominant

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • history of seizures, head trauma, hearing problems, cochlear implant, intracranialmetal implantation, medications that affects the central nervous system, implantedneurostimulators, cardiac pacemakers, or medication infusion devices
  • any speech and language disorder other than developmental stuttering
  • neurological or psychiatric disorders, brain surgery, tumours, neurodevelopmentaldisorders, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Study Design

Total Participants: 36
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Transcranial direct current stimulation
Phase:
Study Start date:
February 01, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
September 30, 2024

Study Description

Developmental stuttering is a fluency disorder that can negatively affect many aspects of an individual's life. Recent transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) studies with individuals with stuttering show that tDCS shows promise in increasing fluency when used in combination with situations that temporarily increase fluency. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of bi-hemispheric tDCS on fluency in individuals with stuttering for 5 consecutive days. The hypothesis of the study is that bi-hemispheric stimulation, which includes anodal stimulation to the left hemisphere and cathodal stimulation to the right hemisphere, will be effective on reading and speech fluency when performed for 5 consecutive days. Thirty-six adults with developmental stuttering are expected to complete this double-blind, sham-controlled study. Participants will be divided into two groups by blocked randomization and one group will receive sham stimulation for 5 consecutive days and the other group will receive bihemispheric stimulation. Participants in the tDCS group will receive 20 minutes of tDCS stimulation accompanied by metronome-timed speech during the practice sessions. Reading and speaking fluency will be assessed immediately before, immediately after, and one week after the stimulation sessions. Data will be collected using the stuttering severity assessment instrument (SSI-4) Results will be compared both within and between groups in terms of percentage of stuttered syllables, stuttering severity, and evaluation of the speaker's experience of stuttering.

Connect with a study center

  • Biruni University

    Istanbul, Zeytinburnu 34015
    Turkey

    Active - Recruiting

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.