Psychosocial profile of preschool stuttering children with co-morbid

Abstract EN

Stuttering is a complex multidimensional disorder that presents due to complex and dynamic cooperation of several factors like genetic predisposition, motor ability, language skills, cognition and temperament.

Objective: This study was conducted to explore a characteristic psychosocial profile for stuttering children who are more prone to develop co-morbid psychiatric disorders.

Patients and Methods: The study was carried on 104 preschool children; 65 children with stuttering ( with mean age of 51 months and mean IQ of 93) and 38 children without manifestation of stuttering acting as a control group (with a mean age 59 months and mean of IQ 95).

The children in both groups were subjected to psychometric evaluation, language test, speech evaluation including stuttering severity tests as well as the initial assessment for the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and variable psychosocial factors.

Then the children in the stuttering group were subdivided into two subgroups: stuttering only (Group A) and stuttering with comorbid psychiatric disorder (Group B). Children in (Group A) and (Group B) were compared as regard their communication functions and variable psychosocial factors.

Results: Statistically significant differences were detected between Stuttering group and control group as regard the percentage of associated psychiatric disorders.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was the commonest comorbid psychiatric disorders detected among the stuttering group.

Statistically significant relations were detected between stuttering with comorbid psychiatric disorders and certain psychosocial factors as well as the duration and severity of stuttering.

Conclusion: Childhood stuttering disorder is a heterogeneous disorder which could be viewed along a spectrum with different subtypes.

The co-morbidity with psychiatric disorders may be considered as a specific subtype which may unfortunately be missed during the assessment although its great impact on the course and prognosis of