How does adaptation affect stuttering?

Adaptation refers to the phenomenon where individuals who stutter demonstrate a reduction in the severity or frequency of stuttering of speech disfluencies when they repeatedly read the same passage. This effect can occur because familiarity with the material helps the speaker to feel more confident, which can make it easier to produce fluent speech.

In the context of stuttering, many studies have shown that as a person who stutters reads a specific passage multiple times, the number of stuttering-like disfluencies tends to decrease with each successive reading. This decline in stuttering is a crucial observation in the understanding of stuttering behaviors, as it highlights the potential for adaptability and the influence of practice on fluency.

In contrast, the other options suggest outcomes that contradict the established evidence on adaptation. For example, suggesting that stuttering worsens with repetition or remains constant does not align with the documented trend of reduced disfluencies upon repeated practice. Furthermore, stating that improvement only occurs through speech therapy overlooks the natural adaptive mechanisms that can occur in response to practice and familiarity with a text.