Basic Research

The Foundation is turning its attention more and more to various facets of basic research.

Brain Research
Neuroimaging studies have greatly enhanced the potential to understand brain-behavior relationships in complex behaviors such as speech and language. A recent study by Dr. Anne Foundas, M.D., Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University, revealed the first evidence that anatomic anomalies may put an individual at risk for the development of stuttering. Research efforts are expanding which should provide information to develop targeted behavioral and pharmacological interventions, and may lead to earlier detection of individuals at risk for developmental stuttering, according to Dr. Foundas. The Foundation is promoting this research in various ways.

Genetic Research
Finding the genes involved in stuttering and understanding what they do in people who stutter and in those who are normally fluent holds the promise of revealing some of the underlying causes of stuttering. From this, researchers hope to be able to develop better therapies for those who stutter. The Foundation is actively involved in a project directed by Dr. Dennis Drayna of the National Institute on Deafness and other Communicative Disorders searching for genetic markers associated with stuttering. "Knowing the location of these genes is the first step toward finding the genes themselves which could provide major new insights into the causes of stuttering," Drayna says.

The following articles may be of interest:

• Neurobiology of Stuttering: Are There Distinct Subtypes? By Anne L. Foundas, M.D. (Winter 2010)
• An Introduction to Cognitive Therapy by Jane Fry, MSc (Psych Couns)., Dip CT (Oxon), Michael Palin Centre (Fall 2009)
• Childhood Stuttering by Hayley S. Arnold, Ph.D., Purdue University (Fall 2009)
• Research on Electronic Devices: Preliminary Results by Anne L. Foundas, M.D., and Edward G. Conture, Ph.D.  (Summer 2009) 
• The Impact of ADHD on Stuttering Therapy by Joseph Donaher, Ph.D. (Summer 2009) 
• Clinical Trial on Cognitive Behavior Therapy by Susan Block, Ph.D. (Winter 2009) 
• A New Look at Stuttering and Emotions by Edward G. Conture, Ph.D. (Fall 2008)
• Temperament Can Underlie "Signature Strengths" in Children Who Stutter  by Patricia M. Zebrowski, Ph.D. (Summer 2008)
• New Research from Purdue University by Anne Smith, Ph.D. (Summer 2008) 
• Atypical cerebral laterality: Neural Risk for Stuttering? by Anne L. Foundas, M.D. (Winter 2008)
• Research in Pakistan moves forward by Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. (Winter 2008)
• Neurological incidents as background factors in developmental stuttering by Per Alm, Ph.D. (Winter 2008)
• Communication disorders and temperament: An article about Dr. Jerome Kagan's seminar, The Nature of Human Temperament, by Lisa Scott, Ph.D. (Winter 2008)
• Searching for predictors of chronic stuttering by Anne Smith, Ph.D., Purdue University (Fall 2007)
• Auditory cortex, altered auditory feedback and developmental stuttering - Initial studies of SpeechEasy by Anne L. Foundas, M.D., and Edward G. Conture, Ph.D. (Fall 2007)
• Recent study reports on SpeechEasy use within extra-clinical environmnets by Ryan Pollard, John B. Ellis, M.S., Don Finan, Ph.D., and Peter R. Ramig, Ph.D. (Fall 2007)
• New drug for stuttering may be on the horizon by Gerald A. Maguire, M.D. (Summer 2007)
• Is stuttering characterized by subtypes? by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D. (Summer 2007)
• Studies in a unique community give new genetic insights into stuttering by Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. (Summer 2007)
• New windows on the onset of stuttering by Anne Smith, Ph.D. (Fall 2006)
• Is language a risk factor in stuttering? by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D. (Fall 2006)
• Genetics of Stuttering: New Developments by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D. (Summer 2006)
• New light on genetic factors by Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. (Summer 2006)
• A look at genetic and neurological correlates of stuttering by Lisa Scott, Ph.D., The Florida State University (Winter 2006)
• Stuttering and the basal ganglia by Per Alm, Ph.D., University of Alberta (Winter 2006)
• The age factor in stuttering by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Winter 2006)
• Newly discovered families give impetus to genetics research by Dennis Drayna, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health (Fall 2005) 
• On the Gender Factor in Stuttering by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Fall 2005)
• Research on Incidence and Prevalence of Stuttering by Ehud Yairi, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Summer 2005)
• Speaking Is No Small Task by Anne Smith, Ph.D., Purdue University (Summer 2005)
• DAF in Stuttering: A Potential Anatomical Link by Anne L. Foundas, MD (Winter 2005)
• African Families Provide New Avenues for Genetics Research by Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. (Winter 2005)
• Genetic Studies Gain Ground (Summer 2004) 
• Hand preference and footedeness: Atypical Handedness in Developmental Stuttering By Anne Foundas, M.D.
• Scientists find evidence for gene that predisposes individuals to stuttering. (Fall 2003)
• Delayed Auditory Feedback most helpful for those who stutter with Atypical Auditory Anatomy. (Summer 2003)
• Medical Aspects of Stuttering: A study with olanzapine. (Summer 2002)
• Recent Developments Highlight Genetic Causes in Speech Disorders. (Winter 2002)
• Are the Brains of People who Stutter Different? A study by Anne L. Foundas, MD. (Summer 2001)
• A Study on using Alprazolam, Citalopram, and Clomipramine for Stuttering by Dr. John Paul Brady (Fall 2000)
• Neural Bases of Stuttering and its Treatment. An article by Robert Kroll and Luc F. De Nil. (Summer 2000)
• A new and exciting look at stuttering in relation to language and motor processing by Anne Smith, Ph.D., Purdue University: Research Studies Interaction of Language and Motor Processing in Stuttering. (Winter 1999-2000)
• If your child has been in speech therapy for a problem other than stuttering but has begun to stutter, you should read the article by Nancy E. Hall, Ph.D.: Treating Coexisting Stuttering, Language, and Phonology Disorders. (Winter 1999-2000)
• Research in Early Childhood Stuttering by Ehud Yairi. (Winter 1999-2000)

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