Bloodsteins Stages of Developmental Stuttering

Phase 1

Onset (2-6 years old) Characteristics : Episodic periods of stuttering followed by periods of relative fluency, sound and syllable repetitions and whole word repetitions , typically occurs at the beginning of sentences /clauses/ phrases ; mostly unaware of interruptions in speech

Phase 2

Represents a progression of the stuttering problem ( onset is school aged children). Chronic or habitual, with few instances of fluent speech ; develops self concept as a “

Phase 3

Onset( 8- young adult ) occurs in response to specific situational fears (talking to strangers ); certain words are more difficult to pronounce , so they avoid those feared words ( substitutions and circumlocutions ) yet no avoidance of specific speaking situations even if they think they might stutter

Phase 4

Stuttering is advanced , vivid and fearful anticipation of stuttering, word substitutions and circumlocutions are frequent , may have associated audible tension and rising pitch