Which behavior might indicate a child has a fluency disorder?

Frequent repetition of sounds or words is a key behavior that can indicate a fluency disorder in children, such as stuttering. Children with fluency disorders often struggle with the smoothness of speech, leading to interruptions in their verbal flow. This can manifest in various ways, including the repetition of sounds (e.g., saying "b-b-b-ball" instead of "ball") or words (e.g., repeating the phrase "I want, I want a cookie"). These repeated elements disrupt the natural rhythm and flow of speech, which is characteristic of fluency disorders.

In contrast, excessive use of gestures, inability to understand complex instructions, and limited vocabulary for age do not directly relate to fluency disorders. Rather, they may point to different concerns, such as language development delays or communicative strategies that a child may be using to express themselves when facing different challenges.