Multiple-Community-Based Epidemiological Study of Stuttering among 3-Year-Old Children in Japan.

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

Risk factors and assessment methods for screening childhood-onset fluency disorders: a scoping review.CoDAS · 2026
Article
The Family History of Developmental Stuttering: A Scoping Review.International journal of language & communication disorders
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Naomi SakaiDepartment of Rehabilitation for Sensory Functions, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities Research Institute, Tokorozawa, Japan.

Shoko MiyamotoFaculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Yuki HaraSchool of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.

Yoshikazu KikuchiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

Hiroaki KobayashiCollege of Human and Social Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.

Takaaki TakeyamaUdaka ENT Clinic, Myouzai, Japan.

Jiro UdakaUdaka ENT Clinic, Myouzai, Japan.

Daisuke SudoFamily Clinic Kamata, Ohta, Japan.

Koichi MoriNational Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMany epidemiological studies of the disorder of stuttering have been conducted during the 20th century, continuing during the current one. Unfortunately, only a few were carried out in Japan. This study aimed at assessing (1) the incidence and prevalence of stuttering in 3-year-old children in multiple Japanese communities and (2) factors associated with the onset of stuttering among these children.

methodsA questionnaire aimed at screening for the presence of stuttering was employed for 2,055 children aged 3 years, who underwent a standard nationwide health checkup. Positive responses were confirmed in several ways: (1) direct interviews and assessment of the child's speech, (2) confirmatory questionnaire, or (3) telephone interviews by licensed Speech Language Hearing Therapists.

resultsApproximately 6.5% of the children were found to exhibit stuttering at the time of their health checkup. This figure rose to 8.9% after including individuals who previously, but not currently, were reported to have exhibited stuttering. Among the putative risk factors, higher stuttering odds (odds ratio, OR = 3.27) were detected in those with a family history of stuttering, those whose guardians had concerns about their child's development (OR = 1.75), and those with diagnosed diseases or disabilities (OR = 2.13). DISCUSSION/

conclusionsIt was concluded that, in Japan, both the risk of stuttering incidence (8.9%) in children up to, and including, the age of 3 years, as well as its prevalence (6.5%) in this population, was similar to those reported by recent studies in other countries. Additionally, our findings also confirmed that an increased risk for stuttering at age 3 is associated with a family history of stuttering.

introductionMany epidemiological studies of the disorder of stuttering have been conducted during the 20th century, continuing during the current one. Unfortunately, only a few were carried out in Japan. This study aimed at assessing (1) the incidence and prevalence of stuttering in 3-year-old children in multiple Japanese communities and (2) factors associated with the onset of stuttering among these children.

methodsA questionnaire aimed at screening for the presence of stuttering was employed for 2,055 children aged 3 years, who underwent a standard nationwide health checkup. Positive responses were confirmed in several ways: (1) direct interviews and assessment of the child's speech, (2) confirmatory questionnaire, or (3) telephone interviews by licensed Speech Language Hearing Therapists.

resultsApproximately 6.5% of the children were found to exhibit stuttering at the time of their health checkup. This figure rose to 8.9% after including individuals who previously, but not currently, were reported to have exhibited stuttering. Among the putative risk factors, higher stuttering odds (odds ratio, OR = 3.27) were detected in those with a family history of stuttering, those whose guardians had concerns about their child's development (OR = 1.75), and those with diagnosed diseases or disabilities (OR = 2.13). DISCUSSION/

conclusionsIt was concluded that, in Japan, both the risk of stuttering incidence (8.9%) in children up to, and including, the age of 3 years, as well as its prevalence (6.5%) in this population, was similar to those reported by recent studies in other countries. Additionally, our findings also confirmed that an increased risk for stuttering at age 3 is associated with a family history of stuttering.

Indexed as

StutteringChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansIncidenceJapanMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesEpidemiological studyFluency disordersPreschool childrenPrevalence