The efficiency of attentional networks in children who stutter.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether previously reported questionnaire-based differences in self-regulatory behaviors (Eggers, De Nil, & Van den Bergh, 2009, 2010) between children who stutter (CWS) and children who do not stutter (CWNS) would also be reflected in their underlying attentional networks.


METHODS
Participants consisted of 41 CWS (mean age = 6;09; years;months) and 41 CWNS (mean age = 6;09) ranging in age from 4;00 to 9;00. Participants were matched on age and gender. The efficiency of the attentional networks was assessed by using the computerized Attention Network Test (Fan, McCandliss, Sommer, Raz, & Posner, 2002).


RESULTS
Primary results indicated that CWS had a significantly lower efficiency of the orienting network compared with CWNS, whereas no differences were found on the alerting or executive control network.


CONCLUSIONS
Current findings corroborate previously found differences in self-regulatory behavior and were taken to suggest a possible role for attentional processes in developmental stuttering.
Lessius University College, Antwerp, Belgium. kurt.eggers@lessius.eu
Kurt
K
Eggers
Luc F
LF
De Nil
Bea R H
BR
Van den Bergh
D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003463:Cues; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013342:Stuttering / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*