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Sleep parameters in children who stutter: A comparison with children who do not stutter using actigraphy
Maria Clara Helena Couto1, Cristiane Moço Canhetti de Oliveira1, Isabella Meneses da Silva1
1Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Marilia, SP, Brazil.
Journal of Fluency Disorders
|March 29, 2025
Summary
Children who stutter (CWS) show longer sleep onset latency and lower sleep efficiency compared to children who do not stutter (CWNS). Objective actigraphy confirms sleep disturbances in CWS, suggesting integrated sleep assessments for better stuttering therapy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Previous research indicates a high prevalence of sleep disorders in individuals who stutter, often based on subjective reports.
- Objective sleep data in children who stutter (CWS) is limited, necessitating further investigation beyond subjective measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively compare key sleep parameters between children who stutter (CWS) and children who do not stutter (CWNS) using actigraphy.
- To identify specific sleep disturbances in CWS through objective measurement.
Main Methods:
- Actigraphy was used to monitor sleep parameters (sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep duration) for 14 consecutive days in 30 CWS and 21 CWNS (aged 4-12 years).
- Statistical analysis involved Mann-Whitney tests with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- Children who stutter (CWS) demonstrated significantly longer sleep onset latency (p < 0.001) compared to children who do not stutter (CWNS).
- CWS also exhibited significantly lower sleep efficiency (p = 0.01) than CWNS.
- No significant differences were found in total sleep time or sleep duration between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- This study provides objective evidence of altered sleep patterns in CWS, specifically longer sleep onset latency and reduced sleep efficiency.
- These findings suggest a higher incidence of sleep disturbances in children who stutter.
- Integrating sleep assessments into the clinical management of stuttering may enhance therapeutic outcomes.
