Associations between stuttering, comorbid conditions and executive function in children: a population-based study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Executive function (EF) and its relationship with stuttering are not fully understood.
• Comorbid conditions are common in children who stutter (CWS), but their impact on EF requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between executive function (EF), stuttering, and comorbidity in children.
• To examine behavioral manifestations of EF, such as inattention and self-regulation, in CWS and children who do not stutter (CWNS).

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Health Interview Survey for a large sample of CWS and CWNS.
• Assessed EF, stuttering, and comorbid conditions through parent reports.
• Employed descriptive statistics and regression analyses to determine the effects of stuttering and comorbidity on EF.

Main Results:

• Children who stutter (CWS) exhibited weaker EF compared to children who do not stutter (CWNS).
• Comorbid conditions were associated with weaker EF in both CWS and CWNS.
• CWS with comorbid conditions displayed the weakest EF, and stronger EF correlated with higher socioemotional competence.
• A significant majority (60.32%) of CWS had at least one comorbid condition; boys who stutter were more likely to have comorbidities than girls who stutter.

Conclusions:

• Comorbidity is a prevalent characteristic among children who stutter (CWS).
• Both stuttering and comorbid conditions exert a negative influence on executive function (EF).
• Findings highlight the interconnectedness of stuttering, comorbidity, and executive function in child development.