You suspect a patient's speech disruption is a stammer. Before revealing the answer, decide how you would assess for this.

Listen to spontaneous speech, noting whether its flow is broken specifically by pauses or by the repetition of parts of words, rather than an absence of speech or a disorganisation of its content. Note any accompanying grimacing or tic-like bodily movements, since these are a recognised associated feature. Take a developmental history, since a stammer usually begins around early childhood and is more common in boys, and ask specifically whether a childhood stammer had previously resolved before resurfacing now. Ask about the current circumstances, since a stammer resurfacing specifically during severe stress or at the onset of acute illness should prompt consideration of this childhood history.