Drug-induced stuttering: A case study

Abstract

A 26-year-old female presented with an onset of severe stuttering four days after taking the medications Gabapentin and Lexapro. Gabapentin has been associated with acquired stuttering previously but, unlike previous cases, the stutter persisted for years after the discontinuation of the drug. Neurological and motor speech exams were normal aside from stuttering. The patient did not respond to fluency shaping strategies. Speech therapy focused on reducing secondary behaviors, affective, and cognitive aspects related to stuttering and was successful in improving cognitive, affective, quality of life, and stuttering severity measures. This case study supports the use of therapy procedures that focuses on factors beyond speech fluency in the treatment of acquired stuttering.