Which characteristic below is symptomatic of stuttering?

Active attempts to avoid communication difficulties is a hallmark characteristic of stuttering. Individuals who stutter often experience anxiety or fear regarding their speech and may employ various strategies to manage or avoid these communication challenges. This can include physical avoidance, such as choosing not to participate in conversations, or using circumlocution, where they might talk around a word they have difficulty pronouncing.

Choices that involve excessive revisions or reduced intelligibility with a rapid rate, while they may point to other communication disorders, do not uniquely define stuttering. Stuttering is primarily characterized by interruptions in speech flow, which can manifest through repetitions, prolongations, and blocks, alongside the emotional responses to these disruptions. Limited concern for communication difficulties is also not consistent with stuttering, as most individuals who stutter express significant awareness and concern about their speech, often leading to attempts to avoid situations where they might stutter.