Alexander Center > Common Conditions > Fluency disorder, stuttering

Common conditions

This section includes conditions that can be evaluated and treated by Alexander Center professionals.

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Fluency disorder, stuttering

Children who have fluency disorder (stuttering) repeat words or parts of words, which causes them to have difficulty finishing sentences. Children who are learning to talk usually have some amount of stuttering, but if it is severe, frequent or causes them embarrassment, it indicates they may have a fluency disorder.

Symptoms

• Repeating words or parts of words
• Lengthening words or sentences
• Taking long pauses between words
• Avoiding speaking
• Being noticeably tense and struggle when speaking

Tests, treatment

If you are concerned your child may have fluency disorder, go to a speech therapist for testing. The speech therapist will study your child speaking in different situations, such as while under pressure, when reading out loud and during spontaneous conversation. The therapist also will observe how your child speaks with you, siblings and other children.

If your child is diagnosed as having fluency disorder, speech therapy may be recommended. Therapy is based on a child’s individual needs and involves family members teaching children how to relax while speaking. 

See also speech and language disorders