Speech Teletherapy: Motivating a Child
February 5, 2025
- Phone: (361) 792-0822
- Fax: (361) 288-4109
Fluency refers to the flow, rhythm, and ease of speech. When speech is fluent, words are produced smoothly, at a natural rate, and without tension.
Fluency disorders, such as stuttering or cluttering, disrupt the normal rhythm of speech. Individuals with fluency disorders may repeat sounds or words, prolong parts of speech, or experience unintentional pauses or blocks. In some cases, these disruptions are accompanied by visible tension or secondary behaviors (like blinking or head movements).
Fluency therapy helps people speak more smoothly, confidently, and comfortably in daily life.
Fluent speech supports clear communication, social confidence, and participation in everyday activities. When fluency is disrupted, individuals may:
✅ Feel frustrated or anxious about speaking
✅ Avoid conversations or speaking situations
✅ Experience interruptions in academic or professional settings
✅ Struggle to share ideas freely or clearly
Fluency therapy helps reduce these barriers by providing strategies to manage stuttering or cluttering and build confidence in communication.
Fluency disorders can vary in how they appear and how often they occur. Common signs include:
✔ Stuttering – Involves repetitions (e.g., “w-w-what”), prolongations (e.g., “sssssome”), or blocks (pauses where no sound comes out)
✔ Cluttering – Involves rapid or irregular speech that may be hard to understand or seem disorganized
✔ Secondary Behaviors – Facial tension, blinking, or body movements linked to effort during speaking
✔ Avoidance of certain words or speaking situations
✔ Frequent use of filler words (e.g., “um,” “like”) to manage disfluency
✔ Decreased participation in social or work settings due to fluency
Fluency challenges may result from a variety of factors:
✔ Developmental Factors – Stuttering often begins during early speech and language development
✔ Genetic Influences – Fluency disorders often run in families and have a hereditary component
✔ Neurological Conditions – Stroke, brain injury, or other neurological changes can lead to acquired stuttering
✔ Motor Speech Timing Differences – Subtle differences in how the brain plans and coordinates speech movements
✔ Emotional or Environmental Stressors – High-pressure situations or anxiety can increase disfluency, though they are not the root cause.
Speech therapy plays a crucial role in treating fluency disorders. A speech therapist can assess an individual’s unique needs and develop a tailored treatment plan. This plan often includes a combination of strategies to improve fluency and build confidence.
A fluency evaluation helps determine the type, frequency, and impact of disfluency. During the assessment, your speech-language pathologist will:
✔ Observe speech in conversational and structured settings
✔ Identify patterns of disfluency (repetitions, prolongations, blocks, etc.)
✔ Assess speech rate, tension, and secondary behaviors
✔ Evaluate the emotional and social impact of the fluency disorder
✔ Develop a therapy plan based on individual needs and goals
During the assessment, the speech pathologist may analyze:
ased on this evaluation, the speech therapist can create a comprehensive treatment plan.
Fluency therapy is as individual as the people we serve. Some sessions focus on exploring how speech feels, while others may support confidence, comfort, or communication in real-life situations.
We often begin with education and self-awareness, helping individuals understand their speech patterns. As therapy progresses, we may explore ways to ease physical tension, navigate challenging moments, or build flexibility in communication—always at the pace that feels right.
Therapy supports comfortable communication that works for you.
Fluency challenges can impact how we speak and how we feel about speaking. With the right support, individuals can build confidence, manage disfluency, and engage more fully in daily life.
Remember:
✔ Fluency challenges may begin early or develop later in life
✔ Early support leads to better long-term outcomes
✔ Therapy is not about perfection—it’s about comfort, confidence, and connection
✔ A fluency evaluation can provide clarity and a plan for progres
At Simply Speech, PLLC, our mission is to provide ethical, professional, and personalized speech, language, and swallowing therapy to patients in Corpus Christi and across Texas, fostering meaningful progress in a fun and supportive environment.
1828 Waldron Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78418