Construction and validation of an instrument for early detection of stuttering in children between 2 and 2 years 11 months based on speech motor control and linguistic skills

Introduction: Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects a significant percentage of children in early childhood, characterized by interruptions in the verbal flow. Approximately 3% to 8% of children aged 2 to 6 years have this disorder, and although a high percentage show spontaneous recovery, 20% do not. Early detection is crucial to facilitate intervention and improve recovery prognoses. This study aims to develop and validate an instrument for early detection of stuttering in children aged 2 to 2 years and 11 months, based on speech motor control and linguistic skills.Methods: A quantitative approach was adopted with a descriptive and cross-sectional design. An instrument was constructed that included questions about background and diagnosis, validated by experts using Aiken's V index. It was applied to a sample of 34 caregivers, analyzing internal consistency with Cronbach's Alpha.Results: The instrument showed a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.9360, indicating high reliability. Factor analysis revealed that the instrument measures a single dimension related to stuttering risk. Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant, and all items had saturations greater than 0.55.Conclusions: The developed instrument is consistent and reliable, allowing for early detection of stuttering. Its application will help caregivers identify the need for professional intervention, contributing to improving recovery prognoses in children at risk of stuttering