You may know someone who repeats the first sound of a word such as “p, p, p, p, popcorn”, appears stuck on a word and/or elongates a word, “mmmmme”. These are characteristics of interrupted speech during communication affecting the flow, rate and rhythm of speech production. Many of us have dysfluent movements during our varied levels of emotion but a consistent pattern of dysfluent speech requires attention and therapy intervention for both children and adults. 

Childhood Dysfluency occurs for a short period often when children are learning so much in the formative years. Their thoughts are faster than their mouths can formulate the words. However, the severity and frequency will determine the need for treatment. Stuttering with notable secondary behaviors such as a family member who displays extreme effort to convey a message with head shaking, feet tapping, shows signs of body tension and/or eye blinks, or even avoids talking to unfamiliar people, on the phone or in public places, warrants intervention and support from a speech-language pathologist.