El temperamento como factor en la aparición de la tartamudez: estudio en población española

Introduction

This study analyzes, in a Spanish-speaking sample, differences in temperament between children who stutter and typically-developing children, aiming to establish a relation between such differences and stuttering onset.

Methodology

Participants consisted of 47 children who stutter and 47 typically-developing children aged 2–6 years, matched in gender and age (±months). Temperament was assessed using the Spanish version of the short form of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), a parent rating scale.

Results

Children who stutter scored lower compared to their typically-developing matches in activity level (4.04 vs. 4.39) and impulsivity (4.02 vs. 4,72). Children who stutter also scored significantly lower in the general surgency factor (4.14 vs. 4.59).

Conclusion

Temperamental differences between both groups emerged in 2 of the 15 scales of the CBQ, unlike in studies from other countries where such differences were more pronounced. It is hypothesised that these findings could be due to an age effect, as most of the participants were between 2 and 4 years old, indicating that at young ages there is no clear relationship between temperamental characteristics and stuttering.