Question
I am seeing a 7 year old female patient who takes a quick inhalation in the middle of a single syllable word or multisyllable word. She might say "leap" with a quiet "he" type of inhalation like this: "le-heap". Has this type of disfluency been addressed
Answer
You ask an excellent question and present an interesting case. You are doing the "right thing" for your client -- as well as yourself professionally -- by finding out as much as you can regarding the concerns you have about disfluency. It definitely will help in the decision making process for therapy design.
Disfluency and stuttering are two very different speech behaviors. Without having direct knowledge about the child and family you are working with it is difficult for me to give you a specific answer regarding the "type of disfluency" you describe. Your observations that the child "does not have more typical stuttering behaviors..", "that mid-word inhalations increase when there is perceived time pressure" and that her teacher - not you or the child's parents - "had noticed that she had an atypical speech pattern" are all excellent information to utilize in evaluating what to do. I'd be interested in knowing what is the primary reason for speech & language services for the child at this time, the child's level of cognitive functioning, and the level of awareness the child currently has regarding the "disfluency". I believe educating the parents and the teacher about the development of disfluency, the different types of disfluency and the relationship disfluency has with stuttering, is absolutely necessary and a good place to begin.
When it comes to fluency disorders, I always strongly suggest to other professionals - and parents - that they seek out an ASHA Board Recognized Specialist in Fluency Disorders. It is what I would do with my own child. You can locate a BRS - FD near you through the web site www.stutteringspecialists.org.
Michael Retzinger, M.S, CCC-SLP is a Board Recognized Specialist & Mentor in Fluency Disorders. Through his private practice, he specializes in working with children who stutter and their families. His professional website is www.thefreedomtospeak.com.
Michael Retzinger, M.S.,CCC-SLP
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