Definition reprinted with permission from Hood, Stephen B. (editor) available from Stuttering Foundation of America: Stuttering Words (Publication No 2: Speech Foundation of America)
In stuttering, a state of apprehension or fear often related to the anticipation of unsatisfactory or disrupting interpersonal relationships, such as anticipation of "difficulty" when speaking. This state of anxiety may be an integral element in the stutterer's fear and/or avoidance of verbal difficulty.
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