What term describes the physical struggle and tense behaviors often seen in individuals with severe stuttering?

The term that describes the physical struggle and tense behaviors often seen in individuals with severe stuttering is secondary behaviors. These behaviors develop as a response to the difficulties experienced during speech, and can include actions like blinking, facial grimacing, or other physical movements that an individual adopts in an effort to alleviate the struggle or facilitate fluent speech.

Secondary behaviors can also encompass the avoidance of certain words or situations where stuttering may occur, as well as the use of interjections or filler words as a means of managing anxiety related to speaking. The presence of these behaviors often reflects the speaker's attempts to cope with their stuttering, highlighting the tension and discomfort that can accompany the condition. Unlike core behaviors, which are the core characteristics of stuttering such as repetitions and prolongations, secondary behaviors specifically address the physical manifestations of the struggle associated with speaking difficulties.