Conversational Turn Length and Fluency Measurement in Aphasia

A common assumption regarding fluency is that the difference between a fluent and non-fluent speaker can be easily stated (Poeck, 1989; Gordon, 1998). However, there is no objective and valid measure to determinate the level of a person with aphasia on the fluency continuum. Traditionally, people with aphasia have been classified as fluent or non-fluent following the cognitive criteria. In ecologycal data we find that 7,3 words-per-turn value is a valid measure in Spanish and Catalan to delimit fluent and non-fluent speakers. These results emphasize the importance of the quantitative analysis of fluency in speech in its natural environment. As well, the measure of 7,3 words-per-turn not only can determinate the difference between fluent and non-fluent speaker, but allows the diagnosis of severe fluency deficits as logorrhea or mutism.