Functional neuroimaging studies of stuttering: Theoretical implications and clinical speculations

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ABSTRACTS

WEDNESDA Y, SAL A

FUNCTIONAL NEUROIMAGING STUDIES OF STUTTERING: THEORETICAL IMPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL SPECULATIONS L. F. DE NIL and R. M. K R O L L Toronto, Canada

The purpose of this presentation is to provide an update on our ongoing research project investigating the clinical phenomenology of stuttering and its treatment effects using functional neuroimaging. This presentation will offer our interpretations of how the data obtained in these studies can assist us in understanding stuttering and the changes that take place as a result of treatment. Moreover, such important clinical issues as clinical goals, client expectations, and the need for both cognitive and behavioral treatment strategies will be discussed. Wednesday 0900 h-1030 h, Sal A

NEUROBIOLOGY OF SPEAKING AND STUTTERING K. T. K A L V E R A M Dgisseldolf Germany

A model of speech control is presented, which also accounts for tonic and clonic dysfluencies. Essential parts are the vocal tract transformation, audiophonatory coupling, speaking automatization, and misguided learning in early childhood. Vocal tract transformation is considered a two-fold parallel-to-serial transformation, whereas audiophonatory coupling determines the duration of the vowel in the stressed syllable. Automatizing speaking generates vowels in unstressed syllables without auditory feedback. Misguided learning in early childhood leads to dysfunctional opening and/or closing movements of the vocal cords, which causes problems generating vowels. The vowel, as a shift clock impulse, serializes syllables into phonemes, which, if missed, causes repetitions or blocks in speech. Wednesday 1100 h-1130 h, Sal A