Fluency

Fluency

What Is Stuttering?
Stuttering is a communication disorder involving disruptions, or “disfluencies,” in a person’s speech.  People who stutter often also feel physical tension and strain in their speech muscles.  Stuttering often produces embarrassment as well as fear and anxiety about speaking.  Stuttering impairs an individuals ability to effectively communicate with those around him.  Stuttered speech often includes repetitions of words or parts of words, as well as prolongations of speech sounds.  The severity ranges from mild to severe and can vary constantly.

What Causes Stuttering?
The exact cause of stuttering is not known. 

Who Stutters?
Actually we all do from time to time!  It is when fluency is so disrupted that the listener pays more attention to how the person is speaking or is unable to interpret the meaning of the communication that it becomes true stuttering.

It is not uncommon for young children to go through a period of stuttering as they acquire speech and language.  The best thing to do is ignore it.  Listen to the message they are sending and be a good speech model.