Heritability and environmental effects for self-reported periods with stuttering: a twin study from Denmark

Logoped Phoniatr Vocol. 2011 Oct;36(3):114-20. doi: 10.3109/14015439.2010.534503. Epub 2010 Nov 17.

Abstract

Genetic influence for stuttering was studied based on adult self-reporting. Using nation-wide questionnaire answers from 33,317 Danish twins, a univariate biometric analysis based on the liability threshold model was performed in order to estimate the heritability of stuttering. The self-reported incidences for stuttering were from less than 4% for females to near 9% for males. Both probandwise concordance rate and tetrachoric correlation were substantially higher for monozygotic compared to dizygotic pairs, indicating substantial genetic influence on individual liability. Univariate biometric analyses showed that additive genetic and unique environmental factors best explained the observed concordance patterns. Heritability estimates for males/females were 0.84/0.81. Moderate unique environmental effects were also found.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biometry
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Environment*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Heredity
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pedigree
  • Phenotype
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Self Report*
  • Stuttering / epidemiology
  • Stuttering / genetics*
  • Stuttering / psychology
  • Twins, Dizygotic / genetics*
  • Twins, Dizygotic / psychology
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics*
  • Twins, Monozygotic / psychology