Conference: Researchers, Clinicians, & Patient Advocates Address Unmet Needs
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STARS Conference Highlights Unmet Medical Needs in Stuttering Research
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The inaugural STARS Education and Research Conference, held September 13, 2025, in Dana Point, California, underscored the critical lack of effective treatments for stuttering despite its long history and formal recognition in medical classifications.
The Call for Increased Research and Treatment
Gerald A. Maguire,MD,chair and director of residency training at College Medical Center in Long Beach,California,and staff psychiatrist and director of graduate medical education at Oroville Hospital in Oroville,California,emphasized the past neglect of stuttering within the medical community. He stated in an exclusive interview with Psychiatric Times that stuttering is uniquely classified in both the ICD and DSM yet lacks FDA-approved, evidence-based treatments.1
Maguire’s impetus for founding STARS (details on the institution’s mission are forthcoming) stems from this gap in care. He advocates for a collaborative approach involving psychiatric practitioners, neurologists, pediatric neurologists, and pediatricians to address the complex needs of individuals who stutter.
Why Stuttering Remains a Medical Challenge
Despite being a prevalent condition affecting an estimated 3% of the world’s population2,stuttering research has historically been underfunded and underprioritized. This lack of investment has resulted in limited understanding of the neurological and genetic factors contributing to stuttering, hindering the advancement of targeted therapies.
Current treatment approaches often rely on speech therapy techniques, which, while helpful for some, do not provide a consistent or lasting solution for all individuals. The need for pharmacological interventions and other innovative therapies is paramount.
The STARS Initiative: A New Direction
The STARS Inaugural Education and Research conference marked a pivotal moment in the effort to elevate stuttering research and treatment.The conference brought together leading experts from various disciplines to share the latest findings, discuss emerging technologies, and forge collaborations.
Key areas of focus at the conference included:
- Neurological underpinnings of stuttering
- Genetic factors influencing stuttering
- Pharmacological interventions
- Early intervention strategies
- The impact of stuttering on mental health