Are we overlooking Tourette syndrome in children with persistent developmental stuttering?^[1]

Abstract

Stuttering is a common developmental problem that usually remits spontaneously. In many children with persistent severe stuttering "secondary stuttering behaviors" are seen. These physical concomitants include involuntary facial, eye, mouth, neck, shoulder, limb, trunk and pelvic movements and, sometimes, adventitious sounds. We retrospectively analyzed videotapes of nine boys with severe persistent developmental stuttering recorded at their initial evaluation. Secondary stuttering behaviors were noted in all children. In six of the nine children, these movements and sounds were identified even during times when the child was not attempting to speak. For example, these behaviors were identified when the child was relaxed and playing quietly with a parent. These persistent involuntary movements are essentially motor and vocal tics. These observations suggest that we may be overlooking Tourette syndrome in children with persistent developmental stuttering.

Keywords

Persistent developmental stuttering - Tourette syndrome - tics

¹ Some of these data were presented in a poster at the Child Neurology Society meeting in October 2001 in Victoria, British Columbia.