Genes, Brain and Behaviour: What We Know About Stuttering So Far
Since early in the 20th century, researchers have speculated about the potential role of genetic and neural influences in the onset and development of stuttering. The quest for answers to these questions has been shaped by ongoing developments in our understanding of genetics and brain function and the research tools available to investigate these questions. Initially, these tools were relatively limited but they have become increasingly sophisticated over the decades. So has our general knowledge of genetics and brain function. I will start my talk with a brief review of some of the history of this research, which has greatly influenced how people view and treat stuttering, and why I, as a person who does not stutter, have become so engaged in advancing our understanding of stuttering. I will then focus on current research findings that shape how we understand stuttering and its treatment today and how our conception and treatment of stuttering have evolved from a relatively simple, one-dimensional view to a much more integrated and multi-dimensional approach that recognizes the complexities of speech fluency and stuttering. To finish, I will share some thoughts on potential future directions for stuttering research and how calls to move away from an ableist point of view may affect how we approach research and intervention.
About the presenters
Luc De Nil
Luc De Nil is a Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto. Originally from Belgium, where he completed a licentiate degree in Orthopedagogical Sciences at the University of Leuven, he worked clinically for a number of years in a speech and hearing rehabilitation centre before pursuing a doctoral degree in communication disorders at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale with Dr. Gene Brutten. Following postdoctoral research work at the University of Wisconsin in speech motor control, he moved to the University of Toronto. In his research, he tries to gain insight into the neural processes that may lead to the onset, recovery and persistence of developmental and acquired neurogenic stuttering. He has served a President-Elect of the International Fluency Association, was named a Fellow of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association for his contributions in research and service to the discipline. He is the proud father of three children and opa of two grandchildren. He also loves to paint when not working.