| Sumario: | Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between objective descriptors of stuttering behavior and perceptions of stuttering severity. Classification systems for speech dys-fluencies are numerous; this study sought to find a less complicated, yet accurate, predictor of stuttering severity. Method: This study used a taxonomy of stutters outlined by Teesson, Packman, and Onslow (2003). Using this taxonomy, recorded speech samples were annotated using Praat software, and the type of stuttering symptom and its duration was determined. The power of dysfluency types and duration as predictors for stuttering severity was examined by means of a regression analysis. Raters evaluated 1-min speech samples for perceived stuttering severity. Results: Timing parameters yielded more significant severity predictors than tallying parameters did. A concise equation for predicting stuttering severity was established that accounted for the duration of fluent speech in conversation. Conclusion: Although the timing parameter predictor of objective stuttering severity is only 1 component of the assessment of a person who stutters, this simplified focus on percentage of time fluent will compensate for the lack of consensus regarding stuttering classification systems. These quantitative data can be used in addition to an assessment of a person's stuttering experience to better understand and treat fluency disorders holistically (Yaruss & Quesal, 2006).
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