10 Fluency Disorders

What is a Fluency Disorder?

A descriptive term used to characterize the flow of speech

during communication.

Disfluency

The speech behavior that disrupts the fluent forward flow of speech, such as pauses, interjections, and revisions.

What are the Characteristics of a fluency disorder?

Disturbance in the normal fluency and timing patterns. Disturbance in social communication, academic performance, or occupational achievement as a result of stops, starts, hesitations in speech.

What are Primary characteristics of a fluency disorder?

Repetitions, prolongations, and blocks, which are the direct disruptions to speech fluency.

What are Secondary characteristics of a fluency disorder?

Excessive mental and physical efforts; Learned reactions to core behaviors, including escape behaviors (e.g., eye blinks, head nods) and avoidance behaviors (e.g., circumlocutions, word substitutions, postponement) developed to cope with or prevent disfluencies.

What does 'Recovery' mean in the context of fluency disorders?

The reduction or complete cessation of stuttering symptoms; can occur with or without formal intervention.

What is Spontaneous recovery?

The natural resolution of stuttering without any formal therapeutic intervention or assistance.

What is Assisted recovery?

The resolution of stuttering symptoms facilitated by various forms of intervention or support, such as speech therapy. (in conjunction with treatment)

What is Self-managed recovery?

Recovery where individuals take an active role in managing their own fluency, often applying techniques learned in therapy or developed independently.

What is Unassisted recovery?

Another term for spontaneous recovery, implying that the resolution occurs without professional help.

What are Stuttering-like disfluencies (SLDs)?

Disfluencies characteristic of stuttering, including sound/syllable repetitions, whole word repetitions, prolongations, and blocks. These are more typical in people who stutter.

What is Cluttering?

A fluency disorder characterized by a rapid or irregular speaking rate, excessive disfluencies (often non-stuttering like), pauses in unusual places, and often reduced intelligibility, accompanied by disorganized thought and language.

What are Core Features of stuttering?

The fundamental speech disruptions that define stuttering: repetitions (sounds, syllables, words), prolongations (holding a sound), and blocks (inability to produce a sound).

What are Predisposing factors for fluency disorders?

Factors that make an individual more susceptible to developing a fluency disorder, such as genetics, neurological differences, and temperament.

What does it mean for a fluency disorder to be a Developmental disorder?

A disorder that originates in childhood and evolves over time as a child grows and develops, often indicating a complex interaction of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors.

Describe an Intermediate level of stuttering.

Characterized by more frequent core behaviors, the development of secondary behaviors, and initial awareness and negative feelings about stuttering.

Describe an Advanced level of stuttering.

Marked by frequent and severe core behaviors, well-established and complex secondary behaviors, strong negative feelings and attitudes, and significant impact on daily communication and life activities.

How does Gender relate to fluency disorders?

Fluency disorders, particularly stuttering, are significantly more prevalent in males than in females, with a ratio of approximately 3:1 or 4:1.

What is Acquired fluency disorder?

Fluency disorders that begin in adulthood due to a specific neurological event (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury) or as a side effect of medication, distinct from developmental stuttering.

What are Feelings and attitudes related to fluency disorders?

The emotional and cognitive reactions to one's disfluencies, including fear, anxiety, embarrassment, shame, frustration, and negative self-perception, which can significantly impact communication and quality of life.