Research Publications

Peer‑reviewed work and educational resources that inspire our mission.

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This page curates a selection of scholarly work and educational materials that align with the values of Stuttering Freely. Each entry includes the title, authors, publication year and a brief description. We provide a link to the original source so that interested readers can learn more.

Selected Publications

  1. Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Stuttering – Stuttering Foundation (n.d.). This educational handout notes that around 80 million people worldwide stutter (about 1 % of the population), that stuttering affects three to four times more males than females, and that about 5 % of children experience stuttering but most recover. It emphasises that people who stutter are just as intelligent as anyone else and often do not stutter when singing【121911690697328†L114-L125】.
  2. Frequently Asked Questions About Stuttering – Stuttering Foundation (n.d.). This FAQ outlines four factors that contribute to stuttering—genetics, child development, neurophysiology and family dynamics—and stresses that stuttering is not caused by nervousness or emotional problems. It reassures readers that people who stutter are no more likely to have psychological issues than those who don’t【286681193252178†L97-L119】.
  3. Speech and Anxiety Management With Persistent Stuttering: Current Status and Essential Research – Robyn Lowe, Ross Menzies et al. (2021). Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. This review article summarises evidence for behavioural management of stuttering and associated social anxiety. It notes that speech restructuring procedures—although effective at increasing fluency—may increase self‑focused attention and encourage safety behaviours, potentially conflicting with social anxiety treatments【999121352525482†L185-L190】. The authors call for research to resolve this conflict and propose interim clinical guidance【999121352525482†L195-L199】.
  4. Stuttering and Social Anxiety Disorder: New Insights and Treatment Possibilities – Yoshikazu Kikuchi, Gerald A. Maguire et al. (2024). Medical Research Archives. This article explains that the DSM‑5 allows the diagnosis of social anxiety disorder alongside stuttering and highlights a performance‑only subtype of social anxiety. It reports that cognitive‑behavioural therapy is effective at reducing stuttering‑related anxiety, whereas evidence for pharmacological treatments remains limited【81065622650423†L124-L135】.
  5. Evaluating Stuttering Self‑Stigma and Its Relationship to Adverse Impact in Children and Adolescents With the Child Stuttering Self‑Stigma Scale – Chelsea A. Johnson, Katelyn L. Gerwin et al. (2024). Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. In this study, 101 children and adolescents who stutter completed a novel self‑stigma scale and a quality‑of‑life measure. Results showed that self‑stigma scores varied; older participants reported higher application of self‑stigma, and all stages of self‑stigma strongly predicted adverse impact【24310534125305†L224-L238】. The authors conclude that interventions should target self‑stigma early【24310534125305†L234-L240】.
  6. Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy and Mindfulness and Acceptance Group Therapy for Adults Who Stutter – H. Sakheda et al. (2024). Journal of Fluency Disorders. This randomised clinical trial allocated adults who stutter to either cognitive behavioural group therapy with speech training or mindfulness and acceptance group therapy with speech training. Both groups achieved significant reductions in social avoidance and distress, while the cognitive behavioural group experienced greater improvement in fear of negative evaluation【617920968050091†L169-L176】.
  7. An Active Inference Account of Stuttering Behavior – Jean R. Lopes, Gudbjartur Freyr T. Jakobsson et al. (2023). Frontiers in Psychology. This theoretical paper views stuttering as a disruption of the perception‑action cycle arising from aberrant sensory precision and prediction error dynamics【294144459419103†L134-L149】. It proposes two mechanisms—mistiming of precision dynamics and excessive attentional focus—and explains how singing, rhythmic speech and altered auditory feedback can temporarily improve fluency【294144459419103†L155-L171】.
  8. Trait Mindfulness and the Experience of Stuttering – Emily T. Baxter, Stephanie J. Weidner & Gerald A. Maguire (2025). American Journal of Speech‑Language Pathology. This mixed‑methods study compares trait mindfulness in adults who stutter and fluent speakers. It found no significant difference in overall trait mindfulness but reported a strong negative correlation between the mindfulness facet “non‑judging of inner experience” and experiential avoidance【250743546706016†L188-L199】, suggesting that cultivating non‑judgemental awareness may help reduce avoidance and negative thinking in people who stutter.

About These Summaries

The above summaries are intended as entry points. For complete methods, data and analysis, please consult the original publications. Our aim is to spotlight research that supports a compassionate, holistic understanding of stuttering. Decisions about therapy should be made with qualified professionals.