Which of the following is a specific type of fluency disorder characterized by involuntary pauses?

The correct answer focuses on stuttering, which is indeed a specific type of fluency disorder characterized by involuntary pauses and disruptions in the flow of speech. Individuals who stutter may experience repetitions of sounds, syllables, or words, as well as prolonged sounds and involuntary pauses, making their speech less fluid. This condition often varies in severity and can impact communication effectiveness and the emotional well-being of those affected.

Stuttering is distinct from cluttering, which involves rapid or irregular speech patterns that can make speech difficult to understand but does not primarily feature the same involuntary pauses. Articulation disorders pertain to difficulties in pronouncing sounds correctly and do not typically involve the timing and flow of speech. Distortions refer to the inaccurate production of sounds within speech but are not defined as a fluency disorder. Understanding these differences is essential to recognize the specific nature of stuttering within the broader context of communication disorders.