What is a Fluency Disorder?

A fluency disorder is an interruption in the flow of speaking. This can be characterized by atypical rate, rhythm, and disfluencies (e.g., repetitions of sounds, syllables, words, and phrases; sound prolongations; and blocks). Individuals with fluency disorders may also exhibit excessive tension, speaking avoidance, struggle behaviors, and secondary mannerisms. It is not uncommon for individuals with fluency disorders to also experience psychological, emotional, social, and functional impacts as a result of their communication disorder. Two of the most common types of fluency disorders are Stuttering and Cluttering.

Causes: Causes of stuttering are multifactorial and include genetic and neurophysiological factors.

Treatment: Treatment for fluency disorders is highly individualized and based on a thorough assessment of several components including speech fluency, language factors, emotional/attitudinal components, and life impact. Our SLPs will work hard to help enhance the natural rhythm of speech to create more confident communication skills.

Resources: Visit the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association for more information on Fluency Disorders

https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/fluency-disorders/

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