Investigating the Link Between Musical and Speech Rhythms: Insights from Developmental Stuttering

Learning to perform music and to speak fluently both rely on the acquisition of extremely precise auditory-motor skills. This process is greatly facilitated by the development of accurate temporal predictions – a fundamental mechanism underlying rhythm perception and production in both language and music. When the capacity to generate precise temporal predictions is altered, fluent speech production can become challenging. This is the case in stuttering, a neurodevelopmental, early-onset speech fluency disorder which affects around 5-10% of children and adolescents. Using stuttering as an example, this talk addresses the question of how musical rhythm relates to speech motor skills during development. Moreover, it explores how musical rhythm might be harnessed to support the acquisition of speech motor skills in (pre)adolescents who stutter. Drawing on data from several studies conducted in Munich (Germany) and Montreal (Canada) with approximately 200 children and adolescents who do and do not stutter, we will examine a) musical and rhythmic differences between these groups, b) links between speech rate development and sensorimotor synchronization and c) the potential of rhythm training to support speech motor skills in stuttering. Overall, this talk provides insights into an underexplored area of stuttering research and seeks to stimulate broader discussion on the interconnectedness of body, mind, language, and music.

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