Bilingual Children Have an Increased Risk of Stuttering

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 22 - The risk of stuttering is increased among young bilingual children, according to findings published in the January issue of the Archives of Disease in Childhood. These children also have less chance of recovery from stuttering than monolingual speakers who stutter.

Bilingualism is considered a risk factor for stuttering, Dr. Peter Howell, of University College London, and colleagues point out, but "there is little information about how a second language affects the chances of stuttering onset and of recovery."

A total of 317 children between the ages of 8 and 12 years who stuttered participated in the study. The 69 children who were bilingual were matched to a group of fluent bilingual controls.

The main outcome measures included subjects' stuttering history, Standard Attainment Test educational scores, and measures of recovery or persistence of stuttering.

Of the 38 bilingual children who used a language other than English at home, 36 stuttered in both languages. Two of the 38 children stuttered in their native language but did not stutter in English.

Fewer children who used their alternative language exclusively at home and learned English in school stuttered, compared with those who used both languages at home - 39.5% versus 60.5%, respectively.

By contrast, fluent bilingual controls were more likely to speak their alternative language exclusively at home -- 73.7% versus 26.3%, respectively. The difference between bilingual stutterers and bilingual fluent speakers who spoke only their original language during their preschool years was statistically significant (p = 0.003).

The recovery rate for children who spoke both languages at home prior to school age was 25%, compared with 55% in both the alternative language exclusively and monolingual speakers.

However, Dr. Howell's group also found that early school performance was not affected by stuttering.

"Together, these findings suggest that if a child uses a language other than English in the home, deferring the time when they learn English reduces the chance of starting to stutter and aids the chances of recovery later in childhood."

Taken from: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/587209?src=mp&spon=24&uac=113552SK

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Now I think I understand how come I catch pronounciations easily! Cuz when I was young, I only speak mandarin and nothing else. During English class, I stutter trying to make myself understood. So now I know why I can speak in English and Mandarin fluently! :D. Heh heh. *brags*

Now we know how to teach our children to be bilingual scholars next time! Make them speak only ONE language first! Haha.