Variability of Stutterers' Speech Disfluency: The Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to begin to explore the possibility that women who stutter may produce more speech disfluencies at premenstruation (when anxiety level has been reported highest) than at ovulation (when anxiety level has been reported lowest). Four speech samples were collected from each of 4 Ss, one at ovulation and one at premenstruation for two consecutive cycles. All four Ss produced more disfluencies premenstrually. The finding is consistent with the hypothesis that level of speech disfluency is positively related to level of anxiety in stutterers.