Disfluency

Disfluency refers to any interruption or disruption in the natural flow of speech. This can manifest in various ways, including repetitions of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongations of sounds; interjections like "um" and "ah"; silent pauses; and broken words. Disfluencies are common in all speakers to some extent, but when they occur frequently or with excessive effort, they may indicate a communication disorder such as stuttering or cluttering. The study of disfluency is crucial in speech-language pathology, where understanding its nature helps in diagnosing and treating speech impediments, improving communication effectiveness, and reducing any associated social or psychological impact. The assessment of disfluency often involves analyzing the type, frequency, and duration of these interruptions.

Disfluency meaning with examples

• During his presentation, the speaker exhibited frequent disfluencies, repeating phrases and interjecting 'um' and 'ah' before many sentences. The audience initially noticed the disfluency but it became less noticeable as they focused on the information being presented. This negatively impacted the message delivery, undermining his ability to be perceived as knowledgeable or well prepared.
• The child displayed significant disfluencies when speaking, often stuttering on initial sounds and struggling to finish words. Her parents brought her to a speech therapist. The therapist's evaluation, revealed excessive prolongations and blocks, suggesting a potential fluency disorder requiring intervention. The intervention proved helpful.
• The witness's testimony was marked by a pattern of disfluency, with several instances of repeating words and phrases, and many pauses. The attorney decided to pause the line of questioning. The judge noted that the disfluencies raised concerns about the credibility of the witness. The attorney changed strategy.
• After experiencing a traumatic event, the patient displayed a sudden increase in disfluencies when describing the experience, including an increased number of silent pauses and some sound repetitions. The therapist linked these disfluencies to heightened anxiety associated with recalling the incident, and adjusted the treatment.
• Even the most practiced public speakers can sometimes exhibit disfluencies under pressure, such as during a live interview or Q&A session. The host would sometimes need to wait for the speaker to finish. These mild disfluencies are often perceived as signs of normal speech; however, a pattern of disfluency would require an intervention.