Phase I: Age 2-6
* Disfluencies tend to be single syllable, whole word, or phrase repetitions, interjections, pauses, and revisions.
* The child will not exhibit visible tension, frustration or anxiety when speaking disfluently.
* Normal disfluency will occur when the child is learning to walk or refining motor skills.
* There are periods (days or weeks) of fluency and disfluency
* Changes in the child's environment can cause normal disfluency.
Phase II: Age 2-6
* Disfluencies tend to be repetitions and sound prolongations]
* More than two disfluencies put together (e.g., "Lllllets g-g-go there") and periods of fluency and disfluency come and go in cycles.
* The child demonstrates little awareness or concern about his/her disfluencies but may express frustration
Phase III: Age 2-6
* Disfluency most commonly occurs at the beginning of words or phrases.
* The child tends to be more disfluent when excited or upset
* Repetitions are usually part-word as opposed to whole-word
* The stuttering comes and goes in cycles, sometimes triggered by events and stressors
* The child may show awareness that speech is difficult in addition to the frustration
Phase IV: Age 6-13
* Types of disfluencies include repetitions, prolongations, and blocks.
* Stuttering becomes chronic, without periods of fluency
* Secondary behaviors appear (eye blinking, limb movements, lip movements, etc.)
* Stuttering tends to increase when excited, upset or under some type of pressure.
* Fear and avoidance of sounds, words, people, or speaking situations may develop.
* The person may feel embarrassment or shame surrounding the stuttering
Stage V: Ages 14+
* Speech is characterized by frequent and noticeable interruptions
* The person may have poor eye contact and use various tricks to disguise the stuttering
* Person anticipates stuttering, fears and avoids speaking
* The person identifies him/herself as a stutterer and experiences frustration, embarrassment and/or shame.
* The person may attempt to choose a lifestyle where speaking can often be avoided.