What term describes an interruption in the flow of speech that can be normal in young children?

• A. Stuttering
• B. Developmental disfluency
• C. Voicing error
• D. Apraxia

Answer: (B)

Developmental disfluency is the term that captures the natural interruptions in the flow of speech commonly observed in young children as they learn to communicate. During the early stages of language development, it is typical for children to exhibit periods of disfluency, such as hesitations, repetitions of sounds or words, and the use of fillers, which are all part of their language acquisition process. These instances usually decrease as they gain more experience and proficiency in speaking.

The other terms do not accurately describe this phenomenon. Stuttering refers specifically to a more persistent form of disfluency that can significantly affect speech fluency and may require intervention. Voicing error pertains to incorrect production of speech sounds, and apraxia is a motor speech disorder whereby a person has difficulty planning and coordinating the movements necessary for speech.