Stuttering significantly affects speech fluency in children through sound repetition, prolongation, and blocks, notably impacting their social and psychological well-being. Despite extensive research into various factors, the role of rhythm in stuttering within Bengali-speaking communities remains understudied. This study, conducted in Durgapur, West Bengal, aims to investigate the relationship between stuttering and disruptions in speech timing and temporal patterning. Ten children aged 13–16 years, including both those who stutter and fluent speakers, read the passage “The North Wind and the Sun” three times, and the duration of vocalic and consonantal segments was measured. Interval-based rhythm metrics (%V, ΔC, ΔV, Varco C, Varco V) were computed using the Correlatoire application for all participants. Results consistently showed higher mean values in individuals who stutter compared to fluent speakers, with statistically significant differences observed between the two groups for each metric. These findings, supported by prior research demonstrating rhythm deficits in stuttering populations, reinforce the hypothesis that individuals who stutter may struggle with effectively generating rhythmic speech patterns. Understanding these rhythmic challenges is crucial for developing targeted interventions, with rhythm training emerging as a promising approach.

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Rhythm Variations in Bengali-Speaking Children: Stutterers Versus Fluent Speakers

  • Baidurya Kanti Mandal,
  • Shakuntala Mahanta

摘要

Stuttering significantly affects speech fluency in children through sound repetition, prolongation, and blocks, notably impacting their social and psychological well-being. Despite extensive research into various factors, the role of rhythm in stuttering within Bengali-speaking communities remains understudied. This study, conducted in Durgapur, West Bengal, aims to investigate the relationship between stuttering and disruptions in speech timing and temporal patterning. Ten children aged 13–16 years, including both those who stutter and fluent speakers, read the passage “The North Wind and the Sun” three times, and the duration of vocalic and consonantal segments was measured. Interval-based rhythm metrics (%V, ΔC, ΔV, Varco C, Varco V) were computed using the Correlatoire application for all participants. Results consistently showed higher mean values in individuals who stutter compared to fluent speakers, with statistically significant differences observed between the two groups for each metric. These findings, supported by prior research demonstrating rhythm deficits in stuttering populations, reinforce the hypothesis that individuals who stutter may struggle with effectively generating rhythmic speech patterns. Understanding these rhythmic challenges is crucial for developing targeted interventions, with rhythm training emerging as a promising approach.