Once children start forming sentences, most parents feel assured that their child is on the right path to speaking correctly and hitting their milestones; however even when children start speaking at an appropriate age, some have issues with their speech. Some of the typical issues that arise can usually be resolved on their own or addressed with a speech language pathologist. Many children with typical speech problems deal with stuttering while speaking or reading. According to an article by Speech Buddies on speecbuddy.com, stuttering at the end of every sentence can be a form of word-final disfluencies. An example from this website is that a child will stutter on the last word like so: “I want the ball-all-all-all.”

How is it Diagnosed?
Speech pathologists and teachers may have a hard time diagnosing this condition. It is certainly considered uncommon in the spectrum of disfluencies diagnosed by speech pathologists, and also known as an atypical disfluency. For example, school-aged children as young as 4 or 5 may be repeating the last words of every sentence. Teachers and parents may not even notice it because it may not affect their performance in the classroom and they can still keep up with their peers academically. Some parents even believe that their child will grow out of it.

As of today, there is still not enough research or case studies done to determine why children develop word-final disfluencies.

Difference between Word-Final Disfluencies & Typical Disfluencies
Stuttering is considered a typical disfluency and will occur when the words are not pronounced properly by sound or syllables and the entire word is repeated. Many people use words such as “fillers”, typically used by teenagers, using words like “um” or “like” in their sentences. Word-final disfluencies can be noticeable if a speech language pathologist is actively listening to the person speaking and notice the stutter at the end of their words or sentences instead of at the beginning, such as in common speech disorders.

Stuttering can happen at any time but is more noticeable if the child feels stressed or senses the adult’s impatience when trying to understand them. Parents should practice patience while listening to their child and more so for a child who has word-final disfluency. There are steps to consider if you think that your child has this condition. Speak to your child’s pediatrician and go see a speech pathologist. This atypical disfluency can also be diagnosed with other speech disorders or may even be associated with other issues and determined as a dual diagnosis. According to Speech Buddies, “Several studies do show that there appears to be a connection between word-final-disfluency and other conditions such as ADHD, Autism, and Tourette’s syndrome.” If your child is on the autism spectrum, it is difficult to coin the term on what is considered “normal” in their typical speech development, as every child is different in their development.

How Will a Speech Language Pathologist Address these Issues?
According to online speech groups and stutteringtherapyonline.com, continuous phonation may help resolve stuttering issues. There haven’t been enough cases or research done in this area to correct word-final disfluency. In order to practice continuous phonation, children must repeat words with consistency in the sound of voicing the words out. Reading exercises can also help with time.