Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of symptoms associated with dysfluency among children of internally displaced persons (IDP).
Methodology: This cross-sectional survey was conducted at primary, middle and high schools of North Waziristan Agency from 1st July to 31st December 2017. Sample recruited included Pushto speaking 400 children, of either gender with an age range of 5 to 16 years. They were subjected to speech assessment and symptoms recorded as per “Continuum of Dysfluent Behavior” chart. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20.
Results: Sample population included 78% males and 22% females with a mean age of 11.02 years. A high prevalence of dysfluency (61%) was recorded with frequency of typical dysfluency being 52.25%, and atypical dysfluency being 8.75%. In typical dysfluency, commonest symptom was Interjection (38.57%), followed by hesitation (18.18%) and one syllable word repetitions (11.57%).
Conclusion: Symptoms of typical dysfluency including interjection and hesitation were the commonest among children of IDP’s living in stressful situation.

Key words: Atypical dysfluency, disasters, internally displaced persons (IDPs), interjection, stuttering severity, typical dysfluency.