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Different “types” of stuttering Years ago, I read an article by a SLP who specializes in dysfluency that gave an example of different “types” of stutterers. “Type” may not be the most accurate clinical word, and it’s generally somewhat fluid in that the same person may experience all 3, but I found it a useful thought experiment to conceptualize dysfluency. Also, if anyone knows the original source, I’d love to find it and properly credit the author!! Imagine a scenario of 3 guys (Tom, Dick and Harry) who all enjoy the idea of going to the bar to drink beer and hang out. 1. Tom walks in, says “C-c-c-can I h-h-have a b-b-b-b-beer?” and talks with the guys at the bar all night. 2. Dick walks in, says “Can I have a…..whiskey?” and stays for a bit to talk. 3. Harry stays home and drinks a beer. (Last few times he tried to go, his long silent blocks triggered by fear and involuntary valsalva maneuvers made ordering beer and chatting too uncomfortable. Even when he’d talk in the group, he didn’t have control of his timing, so he’s unintentionally interrupt or his little joking quips would come out long after they made sense. His speech was choppy and pressured speech and he subconsciously avoided eye contact in order to not see the confusion on the listeners face. This resulted in tone and body language that listeners understandably generally read as discomfort with *the topic or the listener*, as opposed to *a fluency issue*.)