The Coexistence of Disabling Conditions in Children Who Stutter: Evidence From the National Health Interview Survey

Abstract

Purpose Stuttering is a disorder that has been associated with coexisting developmental disorders. To date, detailed descriptions of the coexistence of such conditions have not consistently emerged in the literature. Identifying and understanding these conditions can be important to the overall management of children who stutter (CWS). The objective of this study was to generate a profile of the existence of disabling developmental conditions among CWS using national data. Method Six years of data from the National Health Interview Survey (2010–2015) were analyzed for this project. The sample consisted of children whose respondents clearly indicated the presence or absence of stuttering. Chi-square tests of independence were used for comparing categorical variables; and independent-samples t tests, for comparing continuous variables. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used for determining the odds of having a coexisting disabling developmental condition. Results This study sample included 62,450 children, of which 1,231 were CWS. Overall, the presence of at least 1 disabling developmental condition was 5.5 times higher in CWS when compared with children who do not stutter. The presence of stuttering was also associated with higher odds of each of the following coexisting developmental conditions: intellectual disability (odds ratio [ OR ] = 6.67, p < .001), learning disability ( OR = 5.45, p < .001), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder/attention-deficit disorder ( OR = 3.09, p < .001), seizures ( OR = 7.52, p < .001), autism/Asperger's/pervasive developmental disorder ( OR = 5.48, p < .001), and any other developmental delay ( OR = 7.10, p < .001). Conclusion Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey suggests a higher prevalence of coexisting developmental disabilities in CWS. The existence of coexisting disabling developmental conditions should be considered as part of an overall management plan for CWS.

Associations between stuttering, comorbid conditions and executive function in children: a population-based study

“…The prevalence of comorbid conditions, such as learning disabilities and developmental delay, is higher for CWS relative to CWNS [ 139 , 140 ]. In clinical cohorts, concomitant language, speech, and behavioral disorders (e.g., expressive language, receptive language, articulation, phonology, and ADHD) are commonly reported with stuttering [ 141 , 142 ].…”

Identifying developmental stuttering and associated comorbidities in electronic health records and creating a phenome risk classifier

“…To date, a variety of methods have been used to examine stuttering comorbidities. For example, using the National Health Interview Survey, Briley and Ellis (2018) found the presence of at least one disabling developmental condition (from among (a) intellectual disability, (b) learning disability, (c) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/ADD, (d) seizures, (e) autism, Asperger’s, or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and (f) any other developmental delay) to be 5.5 times higher in children who stutter compared to children who do not. Additionally, using the 1995 Australian Health Survey, Keating, Turrell and Ozanne (2001) found children who stutter had a higher incidence of developmental delay and emotional problems as well as asthma, allergies, and deafness from among 16 pre-selected conditions.…”

“… Manning & Beck, 2013 ), inattention and hyperactivity (e.g., Donaher & Richels, 2012 ), and articulation and phonological disorders (e.g., Wolk, Conture, & Edwards, 1990 ). These studies have identified a number of disorders and conditions comorbid with developmental stuttering but were limited by 1) a reliance on either clinician or caregiver recall ( Briley & Ellis, 2018 ), 2) lack of a control population ( Blood et al, 2003 ; Donaher & Richels, 2012 ; Manning & Beck, 2013 ), and/or 3) a scope limited to preselected conditions (i.e., other potential comorbidities with stuttering may not be included on a given survey).…”

Co-Occurring Disorders in Children Who Stutter: Analysis of Using the Japanese Checklist for Possible Cluttering

“…Interest in the study of stuttering with comorbid disorders has recently been increasing (Arndt & Healey, 2001;Blood & Seider, 1981;Briley & Ellis, 2018;Donaher, Healey, & Zobell, 2009;Donaher & Richels, 2012;Druker, Hennessey, Mazzucchelli, & Beilby, 2019;Graham, 2006;Homzie, Lindsay, Simpson, & Hasenstab, 1988;Nippold, 1990;Nippold & Schwarz,1990). In particular, in addition to articulation/phonological and/or language disorders (e.g., Arndt & Healey, 2001;Blood & Seider, 1981;Nippold, 1990), developmental disorders also have been frequently reported (e.g., Briley & Ellis, 2018;Blood, Ridenhour, Qualls, & Hammer, 2003) as comorbid disorders with stuttering. Studying the disorders that co-occur with stuttering have some advantages.…”

“…First, determining the frequencies of concomitant disorders in children who stutter (CWS) is crucial because a subgroup of children who require a di erent type of assessment, and treatment procedures than the general CWS group may emerge (Arndt & Healey, 2001). Second, the coexistence of disorders may further indicate that stuttering is not caused by a disturbance of a distinct area of the brain (Briley & Ellis, 2018). In other words, because stuttering, in some instances, may develop from disturbances along extensive neural pathways used for speech production, and overlaps with skills that are disturbed in other coexisting conditions (Smith & Weber, 2016), determining what other disorders co-occur with stuttering is essential.…”