Speech disturbances (cluttering) in mildly impaired males with the Martin-Bell/fragile X syndrome

The language characteristics of fra(X) males (n = 10) with an IQ greater than or equal to 70 were evaluated. Language testing demonstrated relatively stronger receptive vocabulary skills compared to weak auditory memory and processing skills. A characteristic speech and language disturbance, cluttering, was present in 9 of the 10 study patients. Their speech was characterized by a fast and fluctuating rate of speech, and repetitions of sounds, words or phrases. Other aspects of cluttering including attentional problems, hyperactivity, motor delays and reading difficulties are commonly seen in the fra(X) syndrome. Cluttering may be helpful in identifying the fra(X) syndrome in a male who is not retarded.