About the Author: Margaret (Maggie) Chen is a junior at Albany High School in California with a strong interest in medicine, neuroscience, and biomedical research. After watching The King’s Speech, she was curious to learn more about the neurological basis of stuttering. This led her to develop a research project where she conducted an extensive literature review, with guidance from Dr. Ioannis Delis at the University of Leeds, exploring the brain regions connected to stuttering along with its treatments. Through her work, she has developed a deep appreciation for the myriad of “shades” stuttering comes in. Beyond research, Maggie values STEM education and community health outreach. She has served as a teaching assistant for a Human Physiology course at UC Berkeley’s Academic Talent Development Program and is involved in student organizations at school focused on health and service. She aspires to become a physician, clinical researcher, and educator in STEM.

After reviewing more than 60 studies and review articles, I learned that there is no single “shade” of stuttering. Stuttering varies by the sound, development, neurological underpinnings, treatments, and personal experiences. Inspired by the theme, “Shades of Stuttering — What’s Yours?”, this presentation explores the diversity of stuttering.

Works Cited

Slide 2:

First image: Personal photo of Margaret Chen.

Second image: 

Lancashire County Council (2009). Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter filming The King’s Speech at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum. [Photograph]. Flickr: Filming Colin and Helena.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Colin_Firth_and_Helena_Bonham_Carter_filming_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=original. Licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped from original.

Slide 3:

Information: 

Neef, N. E.; Chang, S.-E. Knowns and Unknowns about the Neurobiology of Stuttering. PLoS Biol 2024, 22 (2), e3002492. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002492. 

First image: 

Caro, T. (2008). Samuel L. Jackson à l’avant-première de Cleaner diffusée à l’UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles, à Paris [Photograph].  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Samuel-L.-Jackson-Cleaner-2.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=original. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Second image: 

Paul, K. (2026). Emily Blunt at the WWD Style Awards 2026 [Photograph].  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Emily_Blunt_at_WWD_Style_Awards_2026.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=original. Licensed under CC BY 4.0

Third image: 

Antonio, Z. (2007). Rowan Atkinson and Manneken Pis in Brussels [Photograph].  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Rowan_Atkinson_and_Manneken_Pis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=original. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Fourth image: 

Rinaldi, E. (2013). Ed Sheeran [Photograph].  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Ed_Sheeran_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=original. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Fifth image: 

Shaw, S. (1953). A glamorous Marilyn Monroe in a red dress, taken for publicity purposes for 1953 film How to Marry a Millionaire. [Photograph]. Doctor Macro.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Marilyn_Monroe_in_How_to_Marry_a_Millionaire.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=original. Public domain in the United States. 

Slide 4:

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Lundgren, K., Helm-Estabrooks, N., & Klein, R. (2010). Stuttering Following Acquired Brain Damage: A Review of the Literature. Journal of neurolinguistics, 23(5), 447–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroling.2009.08.008

Junuzovic-Zunic, L., Sinanovic, O., & Majic, B. (2021). Neurogenic Stuttering: Etiology, Symptomatology, and Treatment. Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), 75(6), 456–461. https://doi.org/10.5455/medarh.2021.75.456-461

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Chow, H. M.; Chang, S. White Matter Developmental Trajectories Associated with Persistence and Recovery of Childhood Stuttering. Human Brain Mapping 2017, 38 (7), 3345–3359. https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.23590.

Ackermann, H.; Mathiak, K.; Riecker, A. The Contribution of the Cerebellum to Speech Production and Speech Perception: Clinical and Functional Imaging Data. Cerebellum 2007, 6 (3), 202–213. https://doi.org/10.1080/14734220701266742.

Figure: 

Created in BioRender. Chen, M. (2026) https://BioRender.com/hip0ila

Slide 6:

Information:

Blomgren, M. Behavioral Treatments for Children and Adults Who Stutter: A Review. PRBM 2013, 9. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S31450.

Sønsterud, H.; Halvorsen, M. S.; Feragen, K. B.; Kirmess, M.; Ward, D. What Works for Whom? Multidimensional Individualized Stuttering Therapy (MIST). Journal of Communication Disorders 2020, 88, 106052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2020.106052.

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Yada, Y.; Tomisato, S.; Hashimoto, R. Online Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to the Right Homologue of Broca’s Area Improves Speech Fluency in People Who Stutter. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019, 73 (2), 63–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12796.

Blomgren, M. Behavioral Treatments for Children and Adults Who Stutter: A Review. PRBM 2013, 9. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S31450.

Guitar, B. Stuttering: An Integrated Approach to Its Nature and Treatment, 5th ed.; Wolters Kluwer Health, 2019.

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Maguire, G. A.; Nguyen, D. L.; Simonson, K. C.; Kurz, T. L. The Pharmacologic Treatment of Stuttering and Its Neuropharmacologic Basis. Front. Neurosci. 2020, 14, 158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.00158.