tuttering has always been a subject nobody talked about. But The King’s Speech certainly changed all that.
The film, starring Colin Firth, premiered in the fall of 2010. The story about British monarch King George VI, his debilitating speech impediment and the speech therapist who helped him find his ‘voice’ (played by Geoffrey Rush), has brought the subject of stuttering out into the open.
Based on the true story of the father of Queen Elizabeth II, the film portrays a courageous king who, on the eve of World War II, seeks help from a speech therapist to overcome his stuttering so he can lead his nation into war.
The film’s sweep at the 2011 Academy Awards (12 nominations, four Oscar wins including best picture and best actor) heightened the media attention, firing up a conversation that’s shedding light on a little-understood speech disorder affecting 70 million people worldwide.
Free speech
“In the past we’ve had a conspiracy of silence on the subject of stuttering, and this movie has made it a topic that people feel freer to speak about,” says Jaan Pill, Co-founder of the Canadian Stuttering Association. “People who stuttered in movies were usually the butt of jokes. In this case, it’s a person of courage facing a challenge and dealing with it. That’s something everyone can relate to.
“The film has offered us the opportunity to engage in the sharing of accurate information about stuttering. Researcher Marilyn Langevin, a leading speech-language pathologist and researcher at the University of Alberta, has said it’s the biggest event in terms of public education about stuttering she’s seen in her lifetime.”
The response
“The King’s Speech has been wonderful for both raising awareness and promoting discussion,” says Kara Beck, Speech-Language Pathologist, at The Stuttering Treatment Clinic, Ottawa Hospital. “I’ve received phone calls and emails from people expressing an interest in discussion, and in some cases in treatment, after having seen the film. I’ve also had both teens and adults express, ‘That’s me! That’s what it’s like for me,’ after seeing the film.”
“While the film powerfully portrays the level of frustration a person who stutters may experience, it also shows how, with good therapy and determination, such a person can gain control of his speech and make a difference in the world,” says Kara’s client, Ottawa retiree David Burton. “And while all people who stutter may not be kings, we share with ‘Bertie’ (a.k.a. the king) the conviction that we too ‘have a voice.” |
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First impressions
Negative stereotypes persist. Research shows that people who stutter are seen to be more nervous, introverted and insecure in general, than those who don’t stutter. The same research proves that individuals who know someone who stutters will have a much more positive impression of that person, and of other people they encounter who stutter, than those who haven’t had firsthand experience. This is also true in children – contact with children who stutter leads to more positive feelings towards them.
Cause + effect
Stuttering runs in families. Research published in The New England Journal of Medicine last year identified gene mutations as a possible source of stuttering.
Psychological problems do not cause stuttering, that’s a myth. “Research indicates there’s a neurological basis for stuttering,” continues Pill. “We don’t know the exact cause but it’s something to do with brain messages associated with speech production.”
The fact is a person’s stutter does have
consequences – frustration, low self-esteem, and social isolation among them. Psychological problems can be the result, not the cause, of stuttering.
Pill struggled with stuttering from the age of six until, at 41, he attended a three-week clinic at the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research in Edmonton. He explains, “One of the most salient
features of stuttering is avoidance of speaking in public situations. Stutterers might not engage in small talk, or ask questions in class – things we take for granted if we’ve had command over our speech.”
Kids of all ages
The perception has always been that children who stutter will grow out of it. And although most do, Langevin – who’s done extensive research on the effects of bullying in preschool – believes parents should take action early to get help for their children because the social penalties stuttering preschoolers may encounter can have long-lasting effects.
Pill’s advice to anyone seeking help is to get an assessment by a speech-language therapist with experience in stuttering. Ask your family doctor, school or provincial association for information regarding local treatment options or go online to find the program that works best for you or your child. On the Canadian Stuttering Association website, you’ll find information on the Lidcombe program, a Montréal-based fluency program for preschool children that has trained speech therapists across Canada.
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Ongoing support
Brendon Lamarche, 24, a University of Ottawa student, met with a speech-
language pathologist about his stuttering around the age of five. His parents were assured he’d grow out of it and no further
treatment was required. “It was not until grade 7 or 8 that I have strong memories of anxiety about my speech,” he says.
Also Kara’s client, Brendon is clear that the treatment program has been helpful. “I’d recommend it to anyone, no matter what their age or the severity of their stutter. Not only does treatment help you to manage your stutter, it allows you to confront the feelings and emotions attached to it. Once you become more comfortable with the way you speak, the stutter becomes easier to manage.”
Brendon also recommends people who stutter join a self-help group. “The friendship and encouragement that comes from being around people who share similar experiences and who understand the daily challenges that a person who stutters faces, is an important part of extending the success made during therapy into your daily life.”
New thinking
Will this film have created enough buzz to change the public’s view of stuttering forever?
“We certainly hope it will,” says Pill confidently. “We don’t know what the long-term impact of this film will be, but we’ve had extensive, highly positive and accurate media coverage as a result of the film and it gives us hope.” H&L
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