Developmental dysfluency

Developmental dysfluency is considered a normal part of childhood development. About twenty-five percent of children experience some loss in fluency.

Symptoms

Symptoms of developmental dysfluency include the repetition of sounds or pauses between words. These symptoms have generally been noted within youngsters from 18 months to 5 years of age. This may persist for weeks or months but eventually disappears due to the maturation of the child's nervous system.

ex.: "Daddy, I was, I was, um, um, I was..."

Instances like the aforementioned example, indicate, according to Richard Trubo, that the child is learning to use language. On the other hand, children with stuttering disorder, will likely repeat sounds or one-syllable words three or more times. They may also prolong sounds for two or more seconds. In comparison, stuttering can be seen as a process where a word appears to become "stuck," and the person may grimace, jerk the head or neck as he struggles to overcome the stutter.

Children with normal dysfluency tend to have stuttering difficulties that come and go. Generally this is during preschool years and the problem normally ceases altogether by the time a child starts school.

Web sites

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Sometimes I Just Stutter (online version of the children’s book)
• The Stuttering Foundation of America
• The Stuttering Home Page, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Source

Trubo, Richard (2001). "Stuttering". The New Book Of Knowledge - Health and Medicine: 112-123. United States of America: Grolier Incorporated. ISBN 0717206084. Note: This annual was also published under the title The 2001 World Book Health & Medical Annual, United States of America: 2001 World Book, Inc.