Childhood stammering at home and in natural outdoor contexts
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Childhood stammering at home and in natural outdoor contexts: Effects on speech fluency, parent-child interaction and psychosocial wellbeing
IRAS ID
330569
Contact name
Steph Scott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Sheffield
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background:
Around 9% of UK children stammer. They know what to say but the words get stuck. This can make conversations hard. It can leave children feeling sad, alone, and afraid, and their parents worried and unsure of how to help. Fortunately, research shows that conversations between parents and children outdoors in nature are likely to feel less pressured. Also, nature helps children and adults feel better emotionally. We want to use an approach called ‘conversation analysis’ to find out if chatting in nature is easier and feels more relaxed for children who stammer and their parents.
Aims of the research:
To study stammering in everyday parent-child conversations, at home and outdoors in nature. To find out if nature helps the interaction and emotional wellbeing of children who stammer and their parents.
Design and methods used:
There will be three parts to the project:
1. I will review the evidence on how speaking situations affect stammering
2. I will record fifteen children who stammer (aged 3-6) and one of their parents chatting at home and in nature. I will use surveys and interviews to find out how these chats felt.
3. I wil ask stammering professionals, parents and young people, what they think about our findings. Together we will make tools to support children who stammer.
Public and patient involvement (PPI):
A group of parents of children who stammer will provide advice the whole way through the study.
Dissemination:
Alongside our PPI contributors we will:
1. Publish in health journals.
2. Speak at conferences.
3. Talk at NHS health boards, stammering networks and research meetings.
4. Write a twice-yearly newsletter.
The study will help us to: improve our understanding of childhood stammering and advice to families, educators and the public, support the development of new therapeutic interventions, and design future research studies.REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/PR/0273
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion