Cluttering Versus Stuttering: What’s the Difference?
Cluttering and stuttering are two types of fluency disorders that impact a person's ability to produce fluent speech.
Cluttering is a speech disorder characterized by rapid or irregular speaking consisting of atypical pauses, repetitions, and disfluencies resulting in a breakdown in speech clarity and organization.
In contrast, stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by the repetition of sounds or words and disruptions in the flow of speech.
While they share some common signs and symptoms, the causes and treatment approaches for each condition are unique.
This article provides an overview of the signs, causes, and treatment options associated with cluttering and stuttering to help individuals better distinguish between the two.
Signs and Symptoms of Cluttering
Treatment Options for Cluttering
Signs and Symptoms of Stuttering
Treatment Options for Stuttering
Signs and Symptoms of Cluttering
Individuals who experience cluttering may demonstrate a variety of signs and symptoms, including:
Speech Characteristics
A rapid rate of speech that is difficult to understand. Rapid rate is one of the most common cluttering symptoms.
An interruption of thought, often resulting in the speaker losing their train of thought
Unclear articulation with words and sentences running together
Excessive use of filler words, such as “um” and “uh”
Behavioral Characteristics
Inability to follow conversational cues, such as turn-taking in a discussion
Difficulty making eye contact while speaking
Confusion when trying to answer questions or explain ideas
Difficulty organizing tasks or activities
Having a sense of urgency when completing tasks, even if there is no need
Easily overwhelmed by multiple tasks at once and only able to focus on one task at a time
Reading or writing difficulties
Poor reading abilities and slurred speech are common symptoms of a cluttering disorder.
Additionally, auditory processing disorders can play a role in the development of cluttering, which can further affect other language skills.
Causes of Cluttering
The exact cause of cluttered speech is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of neurological, cognitive, and environmental factors.
Cluttering can run in families and may be inherited. It can occur in neurologically healthy individuals or those with a language disorder. Some experts believe cluttering is linked to mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, or trauma.
Treatment Options for Cluttering
The best way to treat cluttering is by utilizing speech and language therapy. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can work with a person to help them improve their communication skills and reduce the frequency of cluttered words or phrases in their speech.
Specific treatment strategies may include:
• Relaxation techniques to reduce stress and anxiety
• Speech and language exercises to improve fluency, pronunciation, and articulation
• Cognitive strategies to help the individual better organize their thoughts and speech
• Social skills training to teach the person how to interact appropriately in conversations
• Environmental modifications such as modified speech rate or reduced background noise
Signs and Symptoms of Stuttering
Stuttering typically begins in early childhood between ages 2-5 and affects about 5% of all children worldwide. Approximately 1% of all adults stutter.
The hallmark signs are disruptions in the flow of speech, such as repeating words or sounds and prolonging syllables. The following signs and symptoms may accompany these disruptions:
Avoidance of certain words or phrases that are difficult to pronounce
Difficulty starting or continuing conversations
Lack of confidence in social situations due to fear of stuttering
Frustration, embarrassment, and anxiety when speaking
Repetition of initial consonants (ex. "b-b-b-ball")
Prolongation of vowels or consonants (ex. "sssssssat")
Interjections such as "ah," "um," or "like" are used to break up words or phrases
Secondary symptoms, such as facial grimacing or eye blinking
Causes of Stuttering
The exact cause of stuttering is unknown, but experts believe it may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
It has been suggested that stuttering can result from an inherited trait. It can also result from stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Treatment Options for Stuttering
The best way to treat stuttering is through speech and language therapy. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can work with a person to help them improve their communication skills, reduce the frequency of stuttered words or phrases in their speech, and increase their confidence when speaking.
Specific speech therapy methods may include:
• Relaxation techniques to reduce stress and anxiety
• Cognitive strategies such as self-monitoring of speech production
• Stuttering modification techniques to help the individual change their stutter into a more fluent pattern
• Social skills training to teach the person how to interact appropriately in conversations
• Environmental modifications to reduce background noise or modify the speaking rate
Tips to Support Someone With a Fluency Disorder
There are many ways to support a person with a fluency disorder, such as cluttering or stuttering. Here are some tips to help:
Be Patient and Listen Actively: Allow them the time they need to express themselves. Avoid interrupting or finishing their sentences. Show genuine interest in what they're saying.
Maintain Eye Contact and Provide Encouragement: Maintain natural eye contact to signal your attentiveness. Offer positive feedback and encouragement to boost their confidence.
Avoid Finishing Sentences or Correcting Them: Resist the urge to finish their sentences or correct their speech. This can cause frustration and undermine their confidence.
Create a Relaxed and Supportive Environment: Foster a comfortable atmosphere where they feel accepted and valued. Avoid creating unnecessary pressure during conversations.
Practice Empathy and Understanding: Acknowledge their feelings and experiences with empathy. Understand that stuttering or cluttering may be a source of frustration for them.
Ask Open-ended Questions: Encourage them to share more by asking open-ended questions that prompt thoughtful responses and allow them to express themselves at their own pace.
Educate Yourself About Stuttering and Cluttering: Take the time to learn about stuttering and cluttering. Understanding the conditions can help you provide better support and be more sensitive to their needs.
By following these tips, you can provide support and understanding for someone with a fluency disorder such as cluttering or stuttering. With proper therapy and practice, it is possible to reduce their symptoms and improve their overall communication skills.
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help
At Connected Speech Pathology, our team of speech-language pathologists specializes in helping individuals struggling with cluttering and stuttering.
Our speech pathologists will provide a comprehensive assessment of the individual's communication skills, including speech fluency, language, and voice. Our evaluation will help to identify the specific areas of difficulty and inform the development of a treatment plan.
Our therapy techniques may help individuals improve their speech fluency and reduce cluttering and stuttering. Techniques may include fluency-shaping techniques, such as slow speech, easy onset and prolongations, and strategies for reducing tension and anxiety.
Our speech pathologists can provide counseling to help the individual cope with the emotional and social impact of cluttering and stuttering. We may also provide support to families and caregivers.
Finally, our speech therapists can teach individual communication strategies to help each person communicate effectively in different situations.
Contact us today for more information! We are here to help you find the best solution for your unique needs.
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
