Trauma-related symptoms among adults who stutter

This study aimed to examine whether Adults who stutter (AWS) experience trauma-related symptoms and to explore the relationship between these symptoms, anxiety, and various aspects of the stuttering experience.

Fifty-five AWS and 41 AWNS completed the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) adapted for stuttering/speaking events and two questions about dissociation frequency and intensity from the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). AWS also completed the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales-Trait (EMAS-T), the Wright & Ayre Stuttering Self-Rating Profile (WASSP), and a perceived stuttering severity self-rating scale. The prevalence of trauma-related symptoms was compared between AWS and AWNS, and correlations between trauma-related symptoms and stuttering experience and perceived severity were conducted among AWS, while controlling for anxiety.

Trauma-related symptoms were reported significantly more by AWS than AWNS. After controlling for anxiety, PTSD and CPTSD total score correlated with WASSP total score, but not with perceived stuttering severity. CPTSD total score correlated with thoughts and feelings about stuttering and avoidance and disadvantage due to stuttering. CPTSD was further correlated with feelings of anger and helplessness, avoidance of admitting your problem to yourself, and disadvantage at home.

This is the first quantitative study to demonstrate trauma-related symptoms among AWS as a result of their stuttering experiences. The presence of these symptoms among AWS suggests that a traumatic experience is linked to their communication difficulties. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing trauma and its manifestations in the assessment and treatment of stuttering.