The effects of bilingualism on stuttering during late childhood
2009

The Effects of Bilingualism on Stuttering in Children

Sample size: 317 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Peter Howell, S. Davis, R. Williams

Primary Institution: University College London

Hypothesis

Does bilingualism affect the onset and recovery rates of stuttering in children?

Conclusion

Bilingual children have a higher risk of stuttering and a lower chance of recovery compared to those who speak only one language.

Supporting Evidence

  • Bilingual children stutter in both languages rather than just one.
  • Children who learn English after a minority language have a lower chance of starting to stutter.
  • Educational performance is not affected by whether a child stutters or not.

Takeaway

Kids who speak two languages are more likely to stutter and have a harder time getting better compared to kids who only speak one language.

Methodology

The study involved a clinical referral sample of children aged 8-12 who stuttered, comparing bilingual and monolingual groups based on stuttering history and educational performance.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in caregiver reporting and selection of participants from specialized clinics.

Limitations

The study is limited to a specific geographical area and may not generalize to all bilingual children.

Participant Demographics

Children aged 8-12 who stuttered, including bilingual and monolingual speakers.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95%

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1136/adc.2007.134114

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