Stuttering is classified as which type of speech disorder?

Stuttering is classified as a fluency disorder because it primarily affects the flow of speech. Individuals who stutter may experience disruptions in the normal rhythm and timing of speech, which can manifest as repetitions of sounds, syllables, or words, prolongations of sounds, or complete blocks where they are unable to produce speech. Fluency disorders involve difficulties in the natural smoothness of speech, and stuttering is the most commonly recognized example within this category.

In the context of speech disorders, articulation disorders focus on issues with the physical production of sounds, voice disorders involve problems with pitch, volume, or quality of the voice, and language disorders encompass difficulties with understanding or using language in a meaningful way. Thus, stuttering distinctly falls under fluency disorders due to its specific impact on the fluidity of speech.