HUNTERTOWN WILDCATS

As human beings, we have the special ability to share our thoughts by talking. We start by forming a thought in our brains. In the brain, this thought is changed into a code we've learned called language. Once the thought is coded into language, the brain sends a message to the muscles that control speech, telling them to move and make the right sounds come out. Then the mouth, face, neck, tongue, and throat muscles move to form words.

Sometimes this process doesn't work perfectly, though. There might be an interruption or break in the flow of speech. This interruption is called a disfluency (say: dis-floo-en-see). Now and then, everyone has trouble getting words out. It's normal to stumble over a word or two every once in a while. Disfluency becomes a speech problem, though, when it gets in the way of everyday talking and is noticeable to other people. A person may have a tough time getting thoughts out. It also can cause a lot of embarrassment or frustration.