cluttering

speech disorder

Also known as: tachyphemia

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Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Cluttering, also known as tachyphemia, is a speech disorder characterized by rapid, disorganized, and often unintelligible speech. Individuals who clutter may speak hastily, stumble over words, or have jerky speech patterns. Unlike stuttering, people with cluttering are typically unaware of their speech difficulties and do not fear speaking situations.1

Experts widely agree that cluttering has a hereditary component. It is distinct from stuttering, though some theories suggest a familial link between the two. The speech of a clutterer is often described as sloppy and erratic, making it difficult to understand.12

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speech disorder
Cluttering
A peculiar impediment of speech, cluttering (or tachyphemia) is characterized by hasty, sloppy, erratic, stumbling, jerky, and poorly intelligible speech that may somewhat resemble stuttering but differs from it markedly in that the clutterer is usually unaware of it, remains unconcerned, and does not seem to fear speaking situations. Its…
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A peculiar impediment of speech, cluttering (or tachyphemia) is characterized by hasty, sloppy, erratic, stumbling, jerky, and poorly intelligible speech that may somewhat resemble stuttering but differs from it markedly in that the clutterer is usually unaware of it, remains unconcerned, and does not seem to fear speaking situations. Its…
Read More