1. fluency definition.Dys and dis fluency difference.Definition and introduction on fluency disorders

This slides deal with the basic concepts regarding fluency disorders.

1. UNIT 1

2. Topics Fluency- Definition by various authors Disfluencies and Dysfluencies Development of Fluency Factors influencing development Stress, Intonation, Rhythm and Development of these aspects Measures of fluency and prosodic aspects

3. Topic 1 Fluency- Definition by various authors Dimensions of Fluency Disfluencies and Dysfluencies

4. Term ‘ Fluency ’ From Latin word ‘ flure ’ which means flowing The speech flows easily and smoothly in terms of both sound and information .

5. To define Fluency: Fluency means non-stuttered and forward moving speech in regards to both content and production (Stark Weather,1987) Fluency is the effortless production of long continuous utterance at a rapid rate . These 3 elements of fluency are related to each other. When smooth flowing streams of sounds are produced in an effortless, timely manner, the speaker is judged to be fluent. The pauses and hesitations break up to the smooth continuous flow of speech and this determines the length and influences the rate of each utterance. These slow down the rate at which words are produced.

6. Definition…. Fluent speech represents smooth, uninterrupted verbal communication (Pearl & Gradon , 1999)

7. Speech fluency and Language Fluency – 2 levels of speech production Language Fluency Syntactic Fluency Semantic fluency P ragmatic fluency Phonologic fluency Stark Weather (1987)

8. Phonologic fluency Individuals are able to pronounce long and complicated sequences of sounds and syllables including nonsense and foreign words.

9. Syntactic Fluency Speakers who are syntactically fluent are able to construct highly complex sentences .

10. S emantic fluency Speakers who are semantically fluent possess and able to access large vocabularies .

11. Pragmatic fluency Speakers who are pragmatically fluent are skillful at verbal response in a variety of speaking situations .

12. Although L anguage fluency is a pre requisite for the production of fluent speech . It is not the case that individuals who stutter are deficient in these aspects of language competence or ability. Individuals who stutter exhibit difficulties in speech fluency.

13. Speech Fluency The coordination and timing of speech segments can affect the articulation which in turn affects fluency. A natomical constraints- children have small vocal tracts and thus Physiological constraints- less coordination less control

14. Dimensions of speech fluency Stark Weather (1987) discusses speech fluency in terms of continuity, rate, duration, co articulation and effort . The coordination of timing of speech segments can affect the articulation which in turn affects fluency.

15. Timing: Continuity/Smoothness of speech Rate Rhythm Duration Effort: Mental Physical

16. Continuity refers to speech that flows without hesitation or stoppage It relates to the degree to which syllables and words are logically sequenced as well as the presence or absence of pauses

17. Filled and unfilled pauses- aspect of continuity which disrupts the flow of sound. Pauses lasting longer than approximately 250 milliseconds ( ms ). (Goldman – Eisler , 1958).

18. There are 2 nearly identical ways of measuring speech continuity : The frequency of pauses and hesitations in a speech sample of known length The number of syllables produced without pausing.

19. Rate refers to the speed in which the words are spoken . Most people talk about as fast as they can. Hence the maximum and ordinary rates tend to be similar.

20. Factors affecting rate F ormality of speaking situation Time pressure I nterference from background noise or competing message.

21. W hen speaking in a noisy environment, speakers are likely to slow down (Long Hurst & Siegel, 1973 ) I f a speaker is producing a lengthy utterance, the rate of speech is likely to be more rapid ( Malecot , Johnson & Kizzear , 1972).

22. Rate measured in terms of words or syllables per minute A s children mature their syllable rate increase while rate variability decreases.

23. For English-speaking adults, the mean overall speaking rate is 170 words per minute (w/m ) Individuals with stuttering- 120 w/m

24. Duration of speech segments Duration of speech segments relates closely to the co articulation of the segments The duration of the consonants and vowels of a language varies considerably with speech rate and phonetic and linguistic context .

25. For example, stressed syllables are longer than unstressed ones ( Umeda , 1975). Sound segments are longer at the initiation and termination of syllables, words and phrases (Fowler, 1978).

26. Rhythm Rather than being a dimension of fluency, it seems to promote or enhance fluency. speech rhythm serves fluency by making it easier for us to talk faster . Unstressed syllables are shorter and thus require less time. In addition rhythm assists in rapid speech production by providing a means for us to anticipate upcoming movements.

27. Effort R efers to the ease with which an act is performed . 2 types of effort: Effort associated with linguistic planning (mental) Effort associated with muscle movement (physical) Stark weather (1987)

28. Mental effort- in terms of formulating the content of a response and arranging content in an appropriate syntactic sequence. Effort can be neuromuscular in the timing and co-ordination of respiration, phonation, and articulation.

29. Fluent speakers- No Physical effort, No mental effort Stutterers- Very High physical effort High mental effort

30. Dysfluency Anything that disrupts smooth flow of speech. Disfluency and Dysfluency ……..Any Difference??

31. Dysfluency Disfluency (Stg)) (Normal) Frequency Severity Types of dysfluency

32. Frequency- dysfluencies occur much more often and tend to last longer Severity- more strain Types of disfluencies - repetition of whole words or the interjection of syllables

33. Characteristics of disfluencies Repetitions- occurs when a unit of speech (phrase/word/syllable) is superfluously repeated Prolongations Pauses- Unfilled pauses & Filled Pauses

34. Fluent speech Stuttering Effortless Effortful Draws attention to content Draws attention to speech Between word Disfluencies Within word Disfluencies Less mental planning More mental planning

35. According to Stark Weather, 1987 & Manning, 2001 Disfluency refers to normal, non stuttered interruptions of speech, whereas, Dysfluency refers to stuttered interruptions of speech Guitar uses the term disfluency to denote stuttered speech and normal disfluency for nonstuttered speech .