Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation (Dec 2007)
CASE REPORT OF STUTTERING IN AN INITIAL PHASE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
Abstract
Stuttering is a type of supra-segmental structure speech disorder. Supra-segmental structure of speech is consisted of quantitative features as: fluency, rhythm, duration, intensity, voice power, word accentuation and melodic expression. Stuttering is manifested as disordered fluency. Physiological fluency is characterized by five time-dimensions.First dimension is sequence. Sounds have specific sequence in words. Sounds order determines word meaning. Some sounds in reverse word- order have different meaning.Second dimension is duration. Every speech manifestation or even a word has its own duration. Duration deficiency may cause problems in understanding speech, and only because of the differential sign accentuation and duration own.Third dimension is speed. Speed measures the pronunciation of phonetic elements and words. Too slow or too fast pronunciation influences understanding speech (such is the case of tachyphemia).Fourth dimension is rhythm. It presents the way of speaking process. If the speech is too fast, tensed, interrupted, not equable then it is difficult for listening to and even tiresome.Fifth dimension is fluency, which is realized by flowing sounds and words into sentences.