Which of the following statements is CORRECT regarding acquired disorders of fluency?

The statement that acquired disorders of fluency emerge gradually over time is correct because these disorders typically develop in response to specific neurological events, such as brain injury or illness, rather than arising suddenly or from developmental processes. This gradual emergence distinguishes acquired fluency disorders from developmental fluency disorders, which tend to manifest more abruptly in early childhood as part of typical development.

In the context of acquired disorders, the onset can be linked to identifiable events or changes in an individual's health, leading to a progressive manifestation of disfluency. This can involve a slow change in fluency patterns as the individual adapts to their new circumstances or neurological status. The other options do not align with the characteristics of acquired fluency disorders; for instance, they are typically not caused by developmental factors (which mainly pertain to developmental stuttering), and they often show core behaviors that are different from developmental stuttering. Additionally, acquired fluency disorders can display secondary behaviors as a result of the disfluency rather than lacking them entirely.