Factors that Affect Naming in Adults and Children who Stutter

Rochelle Newman and Nan Bernstein Ratner

We investigated whether lexical access in adults and children who stutter differs from that seen in people who do not stutter. Specifically, we examined the role of three lexical factors on naming speed, accuracy and fluency: word frequency, neighborhood density and neighborhood frequency. If stuttering results from an impairment in lexical access, these factors were hypothesized to differentially affect naming performance in fluent and stuttering speakers. We report data from approximately 70 participants suggesting group differences in naming accuracy, but no differences in effects of lexical factors on performance. Ramifications for future research and models of stuttering will be provided.