Genetic Studies Gain Ground

Summer 2004

With the publication of a study in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, understanding of the genetic causes of stuttering has moved one step forward.

The report, entitled "Results of a Genome-wide Linkage Scan for Stuttering," demonstrates that a gene on chromosome 18 in humans can have a strong effect on the development of persistent stuttering. While the gene itself has not been identified, this study demonstrates that inherited factors in stuttering are significant enough that it's possible to identify specific genetic factors.

"While we have a way to go before we can identify this gene, we are encouraged that progress is being made," said Dennis Drayna, Ph.D., senior author of the study. Dr. Drayna is pursuing his studies at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, part of the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD.

While his recent study involved more than 50 families from across North America, Drayna is pursing additional studies elsewhere in the world. A previous article in the SFA News documented one family under study in Cameroon, West Africa, and recent efforts have taken Drayna to Pakistan, where the high number of cousin marriages present particularly favorable conditions for genetic studies of stuttering.

Drayna cautions people not to expect quick cures from this research."Our goal is to use genetic studies to understand at least some of the underlying causes of stuttering. While not all stuttering is genetic in nature, we look forward to unraveling this part of the puzzle of stuttering, which will hopefully lead to better treatments in the future," he notes.

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Kenyon Martin

Kenyon Martin, the basketball sensation who was named to the NBA’s All Star Team in 2004, joins other famous people who stutter in a new brochure. The brochure - which unfolds into a small poster - is available free of charge from The Stuttering Foundation.

The poster is intended to give children and adults who stutter inspiration as they grapple with their speech disorder.

Mel Tillis

Mel Tillis, born Lonnie Melvin Tillis, was an influential figure in country music, both as a songwriter and a performer. His journey to fame was marked by overcoming personal challenges, including a stutter that he turned into a defining part of his public persona.

King George

In November 2010, worldwide movie audiences were presented with a most interesting and unusual movie release with The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, history may have forgotten the courageous and inspiring story of Prince Albert who stuttered badly and never dreamed that he would ever be king when his older brother, King Edward VIII, abruptly abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.

Byron Pitts

Byron Pitts has brought much attention to stuttering with his memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges, released in September, 2009. The book not only details his speech difficulties, but also his illiteracy until age 12 and his unstable family life. Pitts overcame the odds to become the chief national correspondent with ABC News.

Dave Taylor

Dave Taylor has been on the Stuttering Foundation's list of Famous People Who Stutter for many years, but probably few people know all of the unique accomplishments of this former hockey great who was born on December 4, 1955, in Levack, Ontario.