RecruitingNot Applicable

Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Stuttering

United States2 participantsStarted 2026-02-15

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if repeated transcranial magnetic stimuli (rTMS) can treat stuttering in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Will there be changes in the brains of people who stutter because of the treatment? * Will any changes in the brain result in less stuttering? Participants will: * Visit the lab 3 times before treatment for tests * Complete 10 rTMS sessions * Visit the lab 2 times after treatment for tests

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age from 18 to 65 years * Self-identifies as a person who currently stutters * Right-handed or left-handed * Normal hearing and (corrected) vision * Able to understand and give informed consent * Monolingual English speaker Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires; neurostimulators; implanted pumps * Metal in the body (rods, plates, screws, shrapnel, dentures, IUD) or metallic particles in the eye * Facial tattoos * Not having medical insurance * Surgical clips in the head or previous neurosurgery * Any magnetic particles in the body * Cochlear implants * Prosthetic heart valves * Epilepsy or any other type of seizure history * History of significant head trauma (i.e., extended loss of consciousness, neurological sequelae) * Known structural brain lesions * Pre-existing speech, language, or neurological disorder (except for stuttering) * Significant other disease (heart disease, malignant tumors, mental disorders) * Significant claustrophobia; Ménière's disease * Women who are trying to get pregnant and sexually active women (of reproductive age) not on a reliable contraceptive * Pregnancy, breastfeeding * Medications increasing the risk for seizures * Non-prescribed drug use * Use of recreational drugs such as medical marijuana * Failure to perform the behavioral tasks or neuropsychological evaluation tests * Prisoners

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Changes in functional connectivity with resting-state electroencephalography (rs-EEG)

Timeframe: Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and one week after post-treatment.

Changes in behavioral measures of stuttering and phonological processing.

Timeframe: Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and one week after post-treatment.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07389694

SponsorKansas State University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-03-15

Contact for this trial

Kristin Pelczarski, Ph.D.

785-532-6879 kpelczar@ksu.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Stuttering, Adult trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Changes in functional connectivity with resting-state electroencephalography (rs-EEG)

Timeframe: Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and one week after post-treatment.

Changes in behavioral measures of stuttering and phonological processing.

Timeframe: Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and one week after post-treatment.