Exploring tDCS for Stuttering: Lessons from Advancements in Aphasia and Dysphagia Research
Tracks
7
Aphasia
Dysphagia
Fluency
Stuttering/fluency
| Friday, June 13, 2025 |
| 1:30 PM - 1:40 PM |
| Knowledge Hub | Halls MNO, Ground Level |
Overview
Dr Hamid Kamiri and Kowsar Esfandeh
Details
⏫ Rapid impact
⏲️ 1.30pm - 1.40pm
⌛ 10-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Advanced (Have significant expertise or similar field of knowledge e.g. regularly treating several cases)
⏲️ 1.30pm - 1.40pm
⌛ 10-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Advanced (Have significant expertise or similar field of knowledge e.g. regularly treating several cases)
Presenter
Dr Hamid Karimi
Charles Darwin University
Exploring tDCS for Stuttering: Lessons from Advancements in Aphasia and Dysphagia Research
1:30 PM - 1:40 PMPresentation summary
While behavioral treatments have the highest level of evidence for treating stuttering in both children and adults, there is growing interest in how brain stimulation techniques like transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) might enhance outcomes. Behavioral therapies are known to indirectly influence brain function, with evidence suggesting they can reorganize neural activity, such as correcting hyperactivity in the right dorsal frontal and parietal regions and increasing activity in the left inferior frontal cortex.
To date, seven studies have explored the effects of tDCS on stuttering, applying currents between 1–2 mA to regions like the left inferior frontal gyrus and right frontopolar region. While results show significant improvements in fluency, these studies have limitations, including small speech samples, short follow-up periods, and no complete elimination of stuttering.
In contrast, research on tDCS for aphasia and dysphagia is more extensive, with nearly 50 studies on aphasia and over 30 on dysphagia. These studies have advanced the field by increasing the number of stimulation sessions, boosting intensity, and refining targeting protocols.
This presentation will compare the current tDCS research on stuttering to findings from aphasia and dysphagia studies. We will explore three key questions:
1. What does current tDCS research tell us about its efficacy for stuttering?
2. How can these findings inform clinical practice for speech pathologists?
3. What lessons from tDCS research in aphasia and dysphagia can guide future stuttering studies?
A systematic review of published studies will serve as the foundation for this discussion, offering insights into the future potential of tDCS in stuttering treatment.
To date, seven studies have explored the effects of tDCS on stuttering, applying currents between 1–2 mA to regions like the left inferior frontal gyrus and right frontopolar region. While results show significant improvements in fluency, these studies have limitations, including small speech samples, short follow-up periods, and no complete elimination of stuttering.
In contrast, research on tDCS for aphasia and dysphagia is more extensive, with nearly 50 studies on aphasia and over 30 on dysphagia. These studies have advanced the field by increasing the number of stimulation sessions, boosting intensity, and refining targeting protocols.
This presentation will compare the current tDCS research on stuttering to findings from aphasia and dysphagia studies. We will explore three key questions:
1. What does current tDCS research tell us about its efficacy for stuttering?
2. How can these findings inform clinical practice for speech pathologists?
3. What lessons from tDCS research in aphasia and dysphagia can guide future stuttering studies?
A systematic review of published studies will serve as the foundation for this discussion, offering insights into the future potential of tDCS in stuttering treatment.
Refrences
Alonzo, A., Brassil, J., Taylor, J. L., Martin, D., & Loo, C. K. (2012). Daily transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) leads to greater increases in cortical excitability than second daily transcranial direct current stimulation. Brain stimulation, 5(3), 208–213.
Chesters, J., M¨ott¨onen, R., & Watkins, K. E. (2018). Transcranial direct current stimulation over left inferior frontal cortex improves speech fluency in adults who stutter. Brain, 141(4), 1161–1171.
Chesters, J., Watkins, K. E., & M¨ott¨onen, R. (2017). Investigating the feasibility of using transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance fluency in people who stutter. Brain and Language, 164, 68–76.
Garnett, E. O. D., Chow, H. M., Choo, A. L., & Chang, S.-E. (2019). Stuttering severity modulates effects of non-invasive brain stimulation in adults who stutter. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13, 411. Gordon, N. (2002). Stuttering: incidence and causes. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 44(4), 278.
Holland, R., & Crinion, J. (2012). Can tDCS enhance treatment of aphasia after stroke? Aphasiology, 26(9), 1169–1191.
Iimura, D., Asakura, N., Sasaoka, T., & Inui, T. (2019). Abnormal sensorimotor integration in adults who stutter: a behavioral study by adaptation of delayed auditory feedback. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2440.
Khedr, E. M., Shawky, O. A., El-Hammady, D. H., Rothwell, J. C., Darwish, E. S., Mostafa, O. M., & Tohamy, A. M. (2013). Effect of anodal versus cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation on stroke rehabilitation: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 27(7), 592–601.
Moein, N., Mohamadi, R., Rostami, R., Nitsche, M., Zomorrodi, R., & Ostadi, A. (2022). Investigation of the effect of Delayed Auditory Feedback and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (DAF-tDCS) treatment for the enhancement of speech fluency in adults who stutter: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 72, 105907.
Moein, N., Mohamadi, R., Rostami, R., Nitsche, M., Zomorrodi, R., Ostadi, A., & Keshtkar, A. (2020). Delayed auditory feedback and transcranial direct current stimulation treatment for the enhancement of speech fluency in adults who stutter: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 9(4), Article e16646.
Reis, J., Schambra, H. M., Cohen, L. G., Buch, E. R., Fritsch, B., Zarahn, E., … Krakauer, J. W. (2009). Noninvasive cortical stimulation enhances motor skill acquisition over multiple days through an effect on consolidation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(5), 1590–1595.
Thair, H., Holloway, A. L., Newport, R., & Smith, A. D. (2017). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): a beginner’s guide for design and implementation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11, 641.
Chesters, J., M¨ott¨onen, R., & Watkins, K. E. (2018). Transcranial direct current stimulation over left inferior frontal cortex improves speech fluency in adults who stutter. Brain, 141(4), 1161–1171.
Chesters, J., Watkins, K. E., & M¨ott¨onen, R. (2017). Investigating the feasibility of using transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance fluency in people who stutter. Brain and Language, 164, 68–76.
Garnett, E. O. D., Chow, H. M., Choo, A. L., & Chang, S.-E. (2019). Stuttering severity modulates effects of non-invasive brain stimulation in adults who stutter. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13, 411. Gordon, N. (2002). Stuttering: incidence and causes. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 44(4), 278.
Holland, R., & Crinion, J. (2012). Can tDCS enhance treatment of aphasia after stroke? Aphasiology, 26(9), 1169–1191.
Iimura, D., Asakura, N., Sasaoka, T., & Inui, T. (2019). Abnormal sensorimotor integration in adults who stutter: a behavioral study by adaptation of delayed auditory feedback. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2440.
Khedr, E. M., Shawky, O. A., El-Hammady, D. H., Rothwell, J. C., Darwish, E. S., Mostafa, O. M., & Tohamy, A. M. (2013). Effect of anodal versus cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation on stroke rehabilitation: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 27(7), 592–601.
Moein, N., Mohamadi, R., Rostami, R., Nitsche, M., Zomorrodi, R., & Ostadi, A. (2022). Investigation of the effect of Delayed Auditory Feedback and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (DAF-tDCS) treatment for the enhancement of speech fluency in adults who stutter: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 72, 105907.
Moein, N., Mohamadi, R., Rostami, R., Nitsche, M., Zomorrodi, R., Ostadi, A., & Keshtkar, A. (2020). Delayed auditory feedback and transcranial direct current stimulation treatment for the enhancement of speech fluency in adults who stutter: protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 9(4), Article e16646.
Reis, J., Schambra, H. M., Cohen, L. G., Buch, E. R., Fritsch, B., Zarahn, E., … Krakauer, J. W. (2009). Noninvasive cortical stimulation enhances motor skill acquisition over multiple days through an effect on consolidation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(5), 1590–1595.
Thair, H., Holloway, A. L., Newport, R., & Smith, A. D. (2017). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): a beginner’s guide for design and implementation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11, 641.
**********
A speech pathologist with a wide range of experience teaching different units of study to undergraduate and postgraduate speech pathology students and with more than 15 years hands-on experience in providing quality, family-centered assessment and intervention in both adult and child settings. Effectively interact with students and clients across various cultural and ethnic groups. Complementary strengths in mentoring and supervising students in conducting research, developing individualized education goals, and practicing in the field of speech pathology. Have comprehensive knowledge of research methodology, good at statistical analysis and active in publishing books/chapter books and academic papers in professional peer-reviewed speech pathology journals. My special fields of interest are stuttering, cross-cultural studies, transdisciplinary health services, and tele-health in speech pathology.
Kowsar Esfandeh
Exploring tDCS for Stuttering: Lessons from Advancements in Aphasia and Dysphagia Research
1:30 PM - 1:40 PM**********
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
Disclaimer: © (2024) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved.
Important Notice, please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited ("the Association"). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this presentation. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this presentation including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this presentation.
.
