An Exploration of Phonetic Complexity in Adults Who Stutter

Open Access
- Author:
- Kelley, Mikayla
- Area of Honors:
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Michael Robb, Thesis Supervisor
Carol Anne Miller, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Stuttering
Adults
Phonetics
Communication disorder - Abstract:
- Stuttering is a communication disorder in which sounds, syllables, or words are repeated, stopped, or prolonged, interrupting the natural flow of speech (Logan, 2015). These disruptions in speech may be accompanied by secondary behaviors, including rapid eye blinking or lip tremors. Stuttering can make it difficult for an individual to communicate, which often affects quality of life. The cause of this disorder has no current consensus; however, several theories have been suggested. The EXPLAN theory, proposed by Howell (2004), suggests that the planning (PLAN) and execution (EX) of speech are independent processes that reflect motor and linguistic levels. In order to confirm this theory, additional research is required to evaluate the influence of phonetic complexity on the planning and execution of speech surrounding a moment of stuttering. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the influence of phonetic complexity in stuttering moments of adults who stutter (AWS). The phonetic product (PP) estimator, developed by Bauer (1988) was utilized in order to observe the relationship between phonetic complexity and stuttering behavior. Conversational speech samples of a group of 10 AWS served as the database. Across the first 200-words of each speech sample, the individual moments of stuttering were identified, as well as the word immediately preceding and following the moment of stuttering. A phonetic product was calculated for each word. The results indicated a significant difference between the PP of the pre-stuttered and stuttered words. This study provides support for the EXPLAN theory as evidenced by the influence of word phonetic complexity on moments of stuttering.