Which statement best defines disfluency in speech?

• A. Stuttering; any break or interruption in the flow/fluency of speech
• B. Lisp articulation of sibilants
• C. Dysarthria due to motor weakness
• D. Excessive vocal tension without stuttering

Answer: (A)

Disfluency in speech means disruptions in the smooth flow of talking. Stuttering is the prototypical example of this, described as any break or interruption in speech fluency. These interruptions include things like repetitions, sound prolongations, and blocks that disrupt the rhythm of speech.

Other options aren’t about breaks in fluency. Lisp is a misarticulation of sibilants and affects articulation accuracy, not the flow of speech. Dysarthria from motor weakness changes articulation and voice quality due to muscle weakness, but it isn’t defined by interruptions in fluency. Excessive vocal tension without stuttering influences voice production, not the continuity of speech itself.

So, disfluency is best defined as a break or interruption in speech flow, with stuttering being the classic example of that disruption.