Stuttering/Fluency

Define stuttering

A disruption in the forward flow of speech

Define disfluency

Disruption in the forward flow of speech (can be normal or abnormal)

Define fluency disorder

Abnormal disfluencies

List normal disfluencies

whole word (my, my ball went under the couch)

whole phrase (I want, I want some ice cream.)

Interjections (er, um, uh) not very frequent

List atypical disfluencies

Sound prolongations (sssssssally took my ball)

Unfilled pause/block (I want (block) ice cream)

Part word/syllable repetition "(My i-i-i-ice cream")

Incomplete/broken phrases; frequent interjections

What are other things that can accompany stuttering?

Physical tension and secondary behaviors

Negative thoughts/emotions

Decreased communication skills

Involuntary breakdowns affects all communication (Respiration, phonation, articulation, etc.)

Define neurogenic stuttering

Neurogenic stuttering (acquired stuttering) resembles stuttering of early childhood onset, but is associated with diagnosed neurological disorders

Etiologies for neurogenic stuttering

No single brain region is exclusively related to NS

Strokes are most frequent cause of lesions

Left hemisphere strokes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s

Etiology of stuttering

Unknown cause, multiple systems play a role (genetic, environmental, abnormal phonation system, etc.)

What assessment would you use for an adult who is exhibiting stuttering?

Stuttering Severity Instrument (SSI-4)

• Frequency

• Duration

• Physical concomitants

• Naturalness of the individual’s speech

Overall Assessment of the Speaker’s Experiences of Stuttering (OASES)

• Self-reported tool that measures impact of stuttering on a person’s life

Treatment for Stuttering

• Client education

• Stuttering modification: changing the way one stutters; modifying the stutter

  • identification, desensitization, modification, and stabilization

• Speech modification: changing the way one speaks; modifying speech

• Fluency-shaping

• Self-acceptance & self-advocacy

Write LTG and STG for a person who stutters.