~ 26 ~ International Journal of Speech and Audiology 2022; 3(2): 26-32 E-ISSN: 2710-3854 P-ISSN: 2710-3846 IJSA 2022; 3(2): 26-32 © 2022 IJSA www.rehabilitationjournals.com Received: 14-05-2022 Accepted: 17-06-2022 Swetlana Singh Gaur 4 th Year BASLP Internship Student, Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Priya Mishra 4 th Year BASLP Internship Student, Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Tabinda Naqvi Year BASLP Internship Student, Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Rajeev Ranjan Assistant Professor (Sp & Hg), Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development, Rehabilitation & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (CRC), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Correspondence Rajeev Ranjan Assistant Professor (Sp & Hg), Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development, Rehabilitation & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (CRC), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Effect of stuttering on speech & language development and quality of voice: A pilot study Swetlana Singh Gaur, Priya Mishra, Tabinda Naqvi and Rajeev Ranjan Abstract Aim: To examine the impact of stuttering on the development of speech and language and voice quality in stuttering children. Methods: Two male children between the ages of 7 and 10 were chosen as the study's subjects. The SSI-4 was used to assess the extent of stuttering, and the LPT was used t o determine the child's language proficiency (semantic and syntax). Dr. Speech software was used to evaluate the voice's quality. The study was conducted at the speech and hearing unit, CRC, Lucknow, India. Results: Subject with moderate stuttering had delayed language (semantics and syntax) levels, a minor hoarse voice, and severe breathiness. Only the syntactical skills of the subjects with the most severe stuttering were delayed, and their voice quality was within acceptable ranges. Conclusion: The children who stutter may experience delayed language development in higher language skills as well as a significant impact on voice quality. Keywords: Stuttering, language, voice, semantics, development, severity Introduction The most prevalent fluency problem, stuttering is an interruption in speech that is marked by particular disfluencies, such as repetitions of sounds, syllables, and monosyllabic words (e.g., "Look at the b-b-baby," "Let's go out-out-out," and "Sssssssometimes we stay home," among others); prolongations of consonants without emphasis; and blocks (i.e., inaudible or silent fixation or inability to initiate sounds). According to the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) [1] , these disfluencies can alter the rate and rhythm of speech and may be accompanied by unpleasant reactions to hearing or hearing someone speak, avoidance behaviours (such as avoiding sounds, words, people, or situations where someone is speaking), escape behaviours, such as secondary mannerisms (such as eye blinking and head nodding or other movements of the extremities, body, or face), and physical tension. According to Campbell and Hill [2] , the following are some examples of major disfluency types: i) Hesitation lasting one second or longer; ii) Interjections; iii) Phrase/sentence revision; iv) Unfinished word; v) Phrase/sentence repetition; vi) Word repetition; vii) Part- word repetition; viii) Prolongations; and ix) Block. The speech motor system fails to generate and/or convey the motor commands to the muscle that are required for fluent speech to continue during the disfluencies that define stuttering [3] . Similar to this, Walsh, Mettel, and Smith [4] noted that "the defining features of stuttering (i.e. sound repetitions, prolongations, and blocks) ultimately represent breaks in the precisely timed and coordinated articulatory movements needed for fluent speech. Voice: Voice is one of the most fundamental and effective means of expressing feelings and sending messages [5] . According to some descriptions, the human voice serves as an embodiment of the self in social settings, facilitating the expression, perception, and exchange of the self, awareness, inner life, and personhood [6] . If someone has unpleasant feelings or anxiety due to many circumstances, such as stuttering, it may negatively affect their speech features, such as voice quality [7] . The abuse of voice that results from an individual's attempts to mask their stuttering by shifting their pitch or volume to an unsuitable level can cause vocal issues [8] . Parameters of voice in children (Normal Group): The basic frequency of a speech sound is referred to as F0. It corresponds to the roughly periodic structure of spoken speech signals.