Iranian Journal of Psychiatry (Feb 2016)
Late Recovery from Stuttering: The Role of Hand Dominancy, Fine Motor and Inhibition Control
Abstract
Objective: There are controversial reports about factors that affect recovery from stuttering. In the present study, the effect of hand dominancy, fine motor and inhibition control on late recovery from stuttering was investigated among a group of Kurdish-Persian children who stuttered in Iran. Method: Twenty-two Kurdish-Persian children aged 7-14 years who stuttered were followed for 6 years. Based on the evaluation of three experienced speech therapists and parental judgments, these children were classified into recovered or persistent groups. Data about fine motor control of hand and inhibition control were obtained, using Purdue Pegboard and Victoria Strop Color Word Tests, respectively. Risk factors including sex, age, and family history of stuttering, handedness, inhibitory control and fine motor control of hand were compared between the groups and modeled to predict recovery from stuttering using logistic regression. Results: From the 22 participants, 5 (22.7%) recovered from stuttering. The recovered and persistent groups did not show significant differences in the interference effect. By dividing the scores of the Purdue Pegboard tests to the right and left hand, we created a new Handedness Index (HI). HI was significantly higher in the recovered group. The score of right hand was higher than the left in the recovered group, but no difference was found between the two hands in the persistent group. Among the investigated risk factors, only HI could predict the recovery from or persistency of stuttering with 94% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Conclusion: Handedness Index can predict the recovery from stuttering significantly among children who stutter.
