We dedicate ourselves to advancing science, education, practice, and advocacy in stuttering and cluttering. Our commitment lies in fostering interdisciplinary research on the nature, treatment, and impacts of stuttering and cluttering on individuals and families.
Our mission encompasses disseminating and supporting professional education about stuttering and cluttering, promoting the application of high-quality research to practice, nurturing excellence in service, and encouraging innovation. Crucially, we aim to support advocacy for “choices and voices” in stuttering and cluttering.
Since 1989, we have provided professional expertise to raise awareness about issues affecting our community. Our aims and objectives are accomplished by expanding our global community, which includes researchers, clinicians, specialists, and people who stammer and clutter.
Continuing to foster dialogue, we organize our triennial Congress, maintain our peer-reviewed Journal (JFD), and arrange webinars and Global Workshops.
We acknowledge excellence in the field of stuttering and cluttering through awards recognizing outstanding research, practice, and service. These projects play a crucial role in creating opportunities for professionals to exchange knowledge and information, fostering collaborations through our World Congress Bursaries.
Stuttering
Stuttering refers to a speech pattern that often involves disruptions or interruptions in the flow of speech. These disruptions can manifest as repetitions (repeating sounds, syllables, or words), prolongations (lengthening of sounds), or blocks (moments of silence or pauses).
These features may be accompanied by struggle behaviors (e.g., eye blinks or lip tremors) and may result in feeling anxious, frustrated, and embarrassed. These variations in speech rhythm might result in a distinctive pattern of communication that diverges from typical speech norms. Such variations can impact social interactions and communication experiences, potentially influencing how individuals engage in conversations, express themselves, or participate in various social contexts.
Cluttering
Cluttering encompasses a speech pattern characterized by a rapid and/or irregular rate of speech. Individuals who clutter might speak faster than usual, resulting in the blending or telescoping of sounds or words.
This rapid speech rate can sometimes lead to occasional disorganization of language, making the speaker’s message less clear or organized. Cluttering can affect the fluency and flow of communication, potentially influencing how individuals are understood in social settings. It may impact mutual understanding during conversations, affecting the dynamics of interaction between speakers.
Executive Board
The Executive Board, serving as the administrative and policy-making body of the association, comprises both voting and non-voting members. It actively fulfills the administrative and policy-making roles within the association.
Ex officio Members
Committee Directors
The work of the WSCO is done by the Executive Board, Directors and members of Committees aligned with the organization’s mission.