Scientists at the University of Alberta are collecting samples of spit, hoping to analyze them to try to pinpoint the cause of stuttering.
For two years, researchers at the university's Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research (ISTAR) have been collecting saliva from stutterers to study their DNA in hopes of finding a cause and a cure for the poorly-understood disorder.
It's long been known that stuttering can run in families, but the genetics of the condition have not been thoroughly studied. Researchers have found some of the gene mutations they think are involved, but they also know that some people carry the mutations, but do not develop the condition.
The DNA databank at ISTAR is the first of its kind and will help address fundamental questions about the genetic cause of stuttering, says Deryk Beal, an assistant professor in the faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
"The family history information we are collecting allows us to be strategic about which DNA samples we'll go to analyzing first," he told CTV Calgary.
"So (if) there's a family that has a very strong history of stuttering -- an aunt and an uncle and a grandfather and maybe some of the grandchildren stutter -- then we know that that's a family where the genetic influence runs particularly strong."
ISTAR researchers say they need to study at least 150 participants for their work and started collecting saliva samples two years ago.
Josh Ukrainetz, 13, who has struggled with stuttering since he was two years old, shared his saliva for the study. His mother, Sandra, says they didn't hesitate to participate.
"I have a family history of stuttering and I was keen to get involved in anything we can do to shed more light on stuttering and what causes it and hopefully lead to more treatments and maybe even one day, a cure," she said.
Josh has been working with a speech pathologist for years to keep his stuttering at bay. He tries to practise what are called the Three T's: taking time to think; taking time to breathe, then talking fluently. He is now excelling academically and even enjoys public speaking, but he says it's not always easy.
"Sometimes, it even kind of hurts for people because you get tension in your chest or throat," he says.
ISTAR says it needs more funding to start the DNA analysis, as they say that sequencing will cost as much as $1,000 per sample. Once the funds are secured, the testing will be done by a geneticist who specializes in developmental speech-language disorders at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
ISTAR researchers say are they hoping to compare the genetic analysis to MRI scans, which show structural differences in the brains of people who stutter, to determine whether differences in brain development in people who stutter are genetic or a reaction in the brain to stuttered speech.
With a report from CTV Calgary's Brad MacLeod
