What is a speech disorder that affects fluency?

Stuttering is a speech disorder that specifically affects fluency, which refers to the flow and rhythm of speech. Individuals who stutter may experience disruptions in their speech production, leading to the repetition of sounds, syllables, or words, as well as prolonged sounds or pauses. This can impact not only their ability to communicate effectively but also their confidence and self-esteem in social situations. Stuttering is characterized by its variability; some individuals may stutter more in certain contexts or when they are anxious.

While cluttering is another fluency disorder, which involves a rapid and/or irregular speech rate, the defining characteristics of stuttering—such as involuntary interruptions and tension—distinguish it as the more recognized and classic fluency disorder. Other options, like articulation or phonological disorders, primarily involve speech sound production and patterns rather than the flow and rhythm of speech itself. Thus, stuttering stands out as the specific disorder affecting fluency in speech.