Cluttering (week 5)

what is cluttering?

A disorder of speech and language formulation resulting in a rapid, imprecise, dysrhythmic, disorganized production of speech

In the past, cluttering described as an impairment of what?

what is it more recently?

central language processes

central speech processes

some characteristics of cluttering

• Excessive repetitions of all kinds

• Incomplete words and phrases

• Fast bursts of speech; choppy rhythm

• Imprecise, slurred articulation

• Short attention span; poor concentration

• Lack of awareness of disfluency

• Deficits in expressive language, reading writing

cluttering (differences from stuttering)

• Late talker

• Repetitions of phrases

• Never very fluent

• Poor articulation

• Poor reading/writing

• Poor prosody & musicality

• Poor attention (or awareness)

• Improves with pressure

stuttering (differences from cluttering)

• Precocious (early) talker

• Repeats sounds/syllables

• Fluent episodes

• Good Articulation

• Good reading/writing

• Good musical ability

• Aware of disfluency

• Worse under pressure

similarities in both cluttering and stuttering

• Family History of Disfluent Speech

• Rapid speech

• Interjections; Revisions

• Irregular Respiration

• Poor eye contact

some treatment targets of cluttering

• Slow Rate and Phrasing

• Heightened Self-Monitoring

• Use of Clear Articulation

• Use of Acceptable, Organized Language

• Improve Phonological Awareness Skills

• Turn-taking/Checking in with the Listener

• Speaking naturally (intonation patterns)

most common symptoms

• Rapid rate & Irregular rate

• Excessive disfluencies

• Collapsing or distorting words

• Language problems

• Inadequate ability to monitor speech

coexisting problems

• Stuttering disorders

• Articulation disorders

• ADHD/ADD

• Learning disabilities

evaluation assess what?

assess all dimensions of communication and common coexisting disorders

2 elements of evaluation

1. case history interview

2. speech tasks

Some people who clutter may do what during an evaluation?

normalize during evaluation causing them to be missed during speech screenings

Some people who clutter may normalize during evaluation causing them to be missed during speech screenings- this is related to what?

awareness

treatment hierarchy of goals

• Slow rate

• Increase self awareness

• Reduction of disfluency

• Improve clarity

• Improve language organization

synergy

Any system that has different parts that need to work well together (i.e., articulators working well together

synchrony

How well timed the parts are as they work together

what are necessary for long-term gains?

Discipline and practice