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The Stuttering Truth: Uncovering the Prevalence and Impact amongst School Children in the Ablekuma South District, Ghana

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Title: The Stuttering Truth: Uncovering the Prevalence and Impact amongst School Children in the Ablekuma South District, Ghana
Language: English
Authors: Emmanuel Kwaku Addo, David Nana Adjei, Dzifa Abra Attah (ORCID 0000-0002-1410-0673)
Source: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2025 60(4).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Stuttering, Incidence, Children, Heredity, Elementary School Students, Gender Differences, At Risk Students, Family Characteristics, Well Being, Speech Therapy, Social Support Groups
Geographic Terms: Ghana
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70080
ISSN: 1368-2822
1460-6984
Abstract: Background: Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting speech flow, often hampering social interaction and academic performance in childhood. However, data on the prevalence and impact of stuttering amongst school-aged children remains limited in Ghana. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, gender distribution, hereditary patterns and impact of stuttering amongst school-aged children in the Ablekuma South district, Greater Accra region. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, a multistage cluster sampling approach was used to screen a total of 829 children (7-12 years) from five public and private primary schools within the Ablekuma South district. Twenty-three (23) Children who stutter (CWS) were identified utilising a two-pronged approach that involved an initial screening by a class teacher and a subsequent clinical assessment by a licensed speech and language pathologist. The Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES) tool was used to determine the impact of stuttering on the participants. Results: The prevalence of stuttering amongst the children was 2.77% (n = 23) with an average onset age of 5.02 ± 2.3 years. Male participants were approximately eight times at risk of stuttering compared to their female counterparts (p < 0.01; CI = 2.351-27.049). Majority (17, 73.9%) of the children who stutter (CWS) reported a family history of stuttering, primarily involving a biological parent. Also, a significant number of CWS, 87.0% (n = 20), reported that stuttering substantially impacted their wellbeing. Conclusions: A section of school-age children in Ghana, particularly boys, may be at an increased risk of stuttering, with implications for the child's wellbeing. However, no formal system exists to detect CWS or identify the challenges CWS face in Ghana. A family history of stuttering can prompt early screening and evaluation. An efficient screening system that ensures early detection is essential to support affected students.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1478070
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: The Stuttering Truth: Uncovering the Prevalence and Impact amongst School Children in the Ablekuma South District, Ghana
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Emmanuel+Kwaku+Addo%22&quot;&gt;Emmanuel Kwaku Addo&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22David+Nana+Adjei%22&quot;&gt;David Nana Adjei&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;AR&quot; term=&quot;%22Dzifa+Abra+Attah%22&quot;&gt;Dzifa Abra Attah&lt;/searchLink&gt; (ORCID &lt;externalLink term=&quot;https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1410-0673&quot;&gt;0000-0002-1410-0673&lt;/externalLink&gt;)
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 9
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;EL&quot; term=&quot;%22Elementary+Education%22&quot;&gt;Elementary Education&lt;/searchLink&gt;
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Foreign+Countries%22&quot;&gt;Foreign Countries&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Stuttering%22&quot;&gt;Stuttering&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Incidence%22&quot;&gt;Incidence&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Children%22&quot;&gt;Children&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Heredity%22&quot;&gt;Heredity&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Elementary+School+Students%22&quot;&gt;Elementary School Students&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Gender+Differences%22&quot;&gt;Gender Differences&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22At+Risk+Students%22&quot;&gt;At Risk Students&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Family+Characteristics%22&quot;&gt;Family Characteristics&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Well+Being%22&quot;&gt;Well Being&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Speech+Therapy%22&quot;&gt;Speech Therapy&lt;/searchLink&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Social+Support+Groups%22&quot;&gt;Social Support Groups&lt;/searchLink&gt;
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  Data: &lt;searchLink fieldCode=&quot;DE&quot; term=&quot;%22Ghana%22&quot;&gt;Ghana&lt;/searchLink&gt;
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70080
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  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1368-2822&lt;br /&gt;1460-6984
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting speech flow, often hampering social interaction and academic performance in childhood. However, data on the prevalence and impact of stuttering amongst school-aged children remains limited in Ghana. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, gender distribution, hereditary patterns and impact of stuttering amongst school-aged children in the Ablekuma South district, Greater Accra region. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, a multistage cluster sampling approach was used to screen a total of 829 children (7-12 years) from five public and private primary schools within the Ablekuma South district. Twenty-three (23) Children who stutter (CWS) were identified utilising a two-pronged approach that involved an initial screening by a class teacher and a subsequent clinical assessment by a licensed speech and language pathologist. The Overall Assessment of the Speaker&#39;s Experience of Stuttering (OASES) tool was used to determine the impact of stuttering on the participants. Results: The prevalence of stuttering amongst the children was 2.77% (n = 23) with an average onset age of 5.02 &#177; 2.3 years. Male participants were approximately eight times at risk of stuttering compared to their female counterparts (p &lt; 0.01; CI = 2.351-27.049). Majority (17, 73.9%) of the children who stutter (CWS) reported a family history of stuttering, primarily involving a biological parent. Also, a significant number of CWS, 87.0% (n = 20), reported that stuttering substantially impacted their wellbeing. Conclusions: A section of school-age children in Ghana, particularly boys, may be at an increased risk of stuttering, with implications for the child&#39;s wellbeing. However, no formal system exists to detect CWS or identify the challenges CWS face in Ghana. A family history of stuttering can prompt early screening and evaluation. An efficient screening system that ensures early detection is essential to support affected students.
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  Data: 2025
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/1460-6984.70080
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stuttering
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Incidence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Heredity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
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      – SubjectFull: At Risk Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Family Characteristics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Well Being
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      – SubjectFull: Speech Therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Support Groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ghana
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The Stuttering Truth: Uncovering the Prevalence and Impact amongst School Children in the Ablekuma South District, Ghana
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            NameFull: Emmanuel Kwaku Addo
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            NameFull: David Nana Adjei
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            NameFull: Dzifa Abra Attah
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              Y: 2025
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            – TitleFull: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
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