Questions Raised about Cluttering Definitions

About the facilitator: Kathleen Scaler Scott, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Misericordia University and a Board Recognized Fluency Specialist. She has been a practicing clinician for over 15 years. Dr. Scaler Scott has authored and co-authored several articles and book chapters in fluency disorders, and is co-editor of the forthcoming textbook, Cluttering: A handbook of research, intervention, and education with Dr. David Ward. She is Coordinator of the International Cluttering Association.

About the facilitator: Yvonne van Zaalen-op 't Hof PhD is director of the Communicative Assessment and Technology centre at Fontys University Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Dr. van Zaalen is an internationally respected researcher, lecturer and fluency specialist specialized in differential diagnostics in speech and language disorders. As head of the clinical committee of the International Cluttering Association Yvonne is responsible for the development of diagnostic and assessment protocols that speech language pathologists around the world can use to treat the intriguing disorder of cluttering.

Discussion about Defining Cluttering

by Kathy Scaler Scott (Pennsylvania, USA) and Yvonne van Zaalen op't Hof (Netherlands)

The papers on defining cluttering by Drs. St. Louis and Ward certainly provide a good deal of material for thought and discussion. Although we are getting closer to narrowing the definition of cluttering, both authors point out that many issues worthy of debate remain. Should the core features in the definition of cluttering include a language component? Or should they focus solely on speech? Why language? Why the specific speech features mentioned? We invite each and every one of you to enter into this important discussion with us. Our goal is to gain the perspectives of consumers, researchers, clinicians, and family members worldwide. Only by examining the debate through multiple perspectives can we transcend titles, roles, and geography to work toward common ground. We invite you to begin this valuable discussion by posting your thoughts and responding to the posts of others. Let us begin!

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SUBMITTED: March 11, 2010