Symptom 9: Hesitant Pauses: The Symptom of Unusual Pausing or Spacing
The ninth symptom linked to AOS is unusual pausing or spacing within and between words or sentences. Such unnatural breaks in speech rhythm can be quite noticeable, sometimes creating a staccato effect that disrupts the natural flow of communication.
Think of it as a stream flowing smoothly until it hits rocks, forcing the water to create small whirlpools before it continues downstream. The water still flows, but the rocks disrupt the stream’s smooth passage. In a similar vein, individuals with AOS might face disruptive pauses that hamper the fluidity of their speech.
However, these pauses aren’t a reflection of the speaker’s mental process or a novel speech pattern. Instead, it’s akin to a beautifully choreographed dance routine unexpectedly disrupted by random pauses. The dance continues, but the interruptions disturb the overall performance. Similarly, unexpected pauses in AOS aren’t a stylistic choice but rather a symptom of this speech disorder. (9)
