Laryngeal movements in stutterers

Abstract

Background: The etiology of stuttering is a puzzle. Abnormal laryngeal movements have been assumed to be a cause of stuttering by many researchers. We aimed at comparing the laryngeal functions of stutterers using electroglottogram (EGG) and vocal tract functioning using formant frequency analysis. Materials and Methods: We compared the acoustic and electroglottographic parameters in the phonation of stutterers between the age range of 15-25 years and normal subjects matched for age and sex. Results and Discussion: All the electroglottographic parameters of stutterers differed from that of normal speaking subjects which is indicative of difficulty in adjustment of the laryngeal gestures for speech in stutterers. There was no significant difference between the stutterers and non-stutterers in terms of formant frequencies. Similar formant frequencies in stutterers and normal speakers and abnormal electroglottographic parameters are suggestive of abnormal laryngeal movements and normal vocal tract functioning in stutterers.