Stuttering
Stuttering is a communication disorder that affects the fluency of speech. It begins during childhood and, in some cases, persists throughout the life span. The disorder is characterized by disruptions in the production of speech sounds. Speech-language pathologists refer to these disruptions as "disfluencies." Stuttered speech often includes repetitions of words or parts of words, as well as prolongations of speech sounds. The frequency of these disfluencies among persons who stutter tends to be much greater than it is for the general population. The exact cause of stuttering remains to be determined. Recent studies suggest that genetic factors play a role in the disorder. It is thought that many, if not most, individuals who stutter inherit traits that predispose them to develop stuttering.
Studies related to the topic: Stuttering
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People related to the topic: Stuttering
Edward Conture, Ph.D.
Professor of Hearing and Speech Sciences Emeritus
Tedra A. Walden, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Human Development, Emerita
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