What are the characteristics of stuttering?
Stuttering is characterized by two types of behaviours: primary behaviours and secondary behaviours.
Primary stuttering behaviours include three types of speech disruptions:
Repetitions: A word or sound is repeated several times, in quick succession, before the person continues on. This could sound like: “Can-can-can-can you pass that pen?” or “C-c-c-c-can you pass that pen?”
Prolongations: A person holds onto a sound for some time before moving on. This could sound like “Lllllllllllllook at that huge dog!” or “She asked me to pick up sssssome bread on the way home.”
Blocks: A person’s air is blocked, and their speech has completely stopped. They may be visibly articulating a sound, or have their mouth open. This could sound like “......I don’t know,” or “We…..can’t do that.”
Secondary behaviours comprise all of the other behaviours that people may develop as a result of their stutter. These can very significantly, but include avoiding words that are likely to cause stuttering, deciding not to speak to avoid stuttering, using physical movements of the limbs, face, head, or torso, using filler words like “um” or “like,” blinking the eyes, repeating phrases to “gain momentum” to push through a stuttered word, or others! They are used to escape a potential, imminent, or ongoing moment of stuttering, and the discomfort associated with it.