What This Document Is
These are cursory notes pertaining to the calculation of nonfluencies within communication samples, as used in a Basic Fluency Disorders course (COMD 4383) at Louisiana State University. It focuses on quantifying disfluencies—specifically, stuttering-like disfluencies, general disfluencies, and nonfluencies—as a percentage of total syllables spoken. The notes were compiled in Fall 2022.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is intended for students learning to analyze speech samples for fluency disorders. Accurate quantification of nonfluencies is a core skill for speech-language pathology students during diagnostic evaluations. It’s used when clinicians need to objectively measure the severity of a client’s disfluency and track progress over time. This document provides a quick reference for calculating these percentages.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document provides formulas and examples, but does not cover the broader context of fluency assessment, differential diagnosis, or treatment planning. It assumes a foundational understanding of speech and language terminology. It also doesn’t address qualitative analysis of disfluencies, such as the types of secondary behaviors observed.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes:
* Guidance on appropriate communication sample length (300-400 syllables) and recording practices (video/audio).
* Formulas for calculating the percentage of stuttering-like disfluencies, disfluencies, and nonfluencies.
* Worked examples illustrating the application of these formulas.
* A checklist of steps for transcribing and analyzing a communication sample, including noting secondary behaviors.
This preview does *not* include a comprehensive explanation of different types of disfluencies, detailed transcription guidelines, or a discussion of the clinical significance of these calculations.