Fluency Disorders

Fluency means uninterrupted and smooth flow of sounds, syllables, words and phrases when put together while speaking.

If dysfluencies are observable then one must consult a Speech Language Pathologist or Speech Therapist.

Most common fluency disorders are stuttering and cluttering.

Stuttering
  • Stuttering also known as stammering.
  • Stuttering is a most common fluency disorder in which continuity of speech flow is interrupted.
  • Stuttering is characterized by interruptions such as repetitions, prolongations, blocks, hesitations and secondary behaviours.
  • Person with stuttering knows what he/she wants to say but has trouble speaking in a flowing way (effortful).
  • Stuttering symptoms increases when the person is excited, tired or under stress, or when feeling self-conscious, hurried or pressured.
  • A stutter feels difficulty speaking in front of a group or talking on the phone.
Cluttering
  • Cluttering is a speech, language and communication disorder characterized by irregular speech rate, jerky speech, erratic rhythm, and poor syntax or grammar, making speech difficult to understand.
  • Cluttering is also characterized by slurred speech.
  • Clutterer can put thoughts into words but cannot organize thoughts while speaking to produce fluent speech.
  • A clutterer is usually unaware of his/her speech dysfluencies.
  • Cluttering is often misdiagnosed as stuttering.
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