Effect of aerobic exercises on stuttering

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Stuttering is a common speech disorder affecting adolescents and adults, leading to significant psychosocial challenges.
• Existing speech therapy may not fully address the complexities of stuttering, necessitating complementary interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of incorporating aerobic exercises (AE) into traditional speech therapy for stuttering.
• To evaluate the impact of AE on stuttering severity across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental trial involved 30 stuttering patients divided into three groups: two experimental groups (ages 7-14 and 15-28) receiving AE and speech therapy, and one control group receiving speech therapy alone.
• Aerobic exercises were administered using treadmills and stationary bicycles.
• Speech fluency was assessed using the Real-Time analysis of speech fluency scale pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Both experimental groups showed greater improvement in stuttering severity compared to the control group.
• Experimental Group B (ages 15-28) demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in stuttering severity (p=0.027).
• Experimental Group A (ages 7-14) did not show a statistically significant difference compared to the control group (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• An integrated approach combining aerobic exercises with speech therapy offers effective rehabilitation for stuttering.
• Aerobic exercise may be a beneficial adjunct therapy, particularly for older adolescents and adults who stutter.