Speech disfluencies in individuals with Tourette syndrome.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to analyze the frequency and type of speech disfluencies in a relatively large group of individuals with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and to compare their results with similar speech data from a control group of unselected individuals. METHOD Self-report data, as well as conversation and reading samples, were obtained from 69 children diagnosed with TS (mean age=12.49) and 27 control participants (mean age=10.9). RESULTS Self-report data on fluency difficulties did not reveal significant group differences; however, detailed analysis of fluency during reading and spontaneous speech revealed an overall higher level of more typical (normal) disfluencies in the TS group. No overall differences in less typical (stuttering) disfluencies were observed between the two groups of children. CONCLUSION Results are discussed in light of previous studies proposing a common aetiology and neuropathological link between TS and developmental stuttering.