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Colin Firth’s emotional portrayal of a stuttering King George VI in the film The King’s Speech has put the actor once again in the limelight. Yesterday, The King’s Speech earned 12 Academy Award nominations, including a best actor nomination for Colin Firth. But Firth isn’t the only figure to be garnering attention for his role. It has also shined a spotlight on stuttering, a still-misunderstood language disorder that affects three million adults in the U.S.
Destined for England’s throne, Firth’s character, Bertie, struggles to overcome his speech impediment and win the confidence of his countrymen during World War II. While The King’s Speech accurately depicts what was known about stuttering in the 1930s and 1940s, there are inconsistencies with what we know about the condition today. Here’s what the reluctant celebrity would like you to know while it enjoys its 15 minutes of fame.
In the film, Bertie reveals to speech therapist Lionel Logue that he was left-handed as a child, and forced to switch to a righty. Logue responds that this is very common in stutterers. This, you’ll be happy to hear, was a myth of the time, and will not actually lead to a stammer.
Stuttering is a type of communication disorder that often shows up in early childhood, usually between the ages of two and five. Five percent of children will stutter at some point -- and almost all of them will grow out of it. One percent of adults -- or three million Americans -- stutter.
Experts still don’t know what causes stuttering, though genetics do appear to play a role. According to the Stuttering Foundation, approximately 60 percent of those who stutter have a family member who also stutters. Gender is another factor. According to Ludo Max, associate professor of speech and hearing sciences at the University of Washington, boys are twice as likely as girls to have a stammer. Girls are also more likely to conquer it without treatment. In adulthood, men are four times more likely to stutter than women.
There is nothing mechanically wrong with the tongue, mouth or other speaking organs in people who stutter. It is believed to be neurological, meaning the brains of people who stutter process speech differently.
Watching The King’s Speech, we assume that stuttering is the result of deep-seated emotional or psychological issues -- sort of a PTSD tic. Bertie confesses to Logue that he was emotionally mistreated as a child and picked on relentlessly for his stammer. Logue works to correct Bertie’s speech in several ways, including what Firth calls “psychoanalysis by stealth.” Stutters aren’t caused by emotional trauma, nor are they a sign that someone who stutters is a nervous wreck. But therapy may, in fact, help, says British Stammering Association’s chief executive Norbert Lieckfeldt in a riveting interview with Firth. People who stutter are often picked on and bullied, and tend to become extremely self-conscious about their disorder. Stress and high-pressure situations can cause performance anxiety and make stuttering worse. Providing a relaxed environment free from negative reactions can help improve one’s speech fluency. In fact, parents with children who stutter are often taught such strategies to help reduce their child’s stutter.
While there is still no cure for stuttering, there are treatments available. If your child develops a stutter, you should see a speech therapist, who can help predict whether he or she will outgrow it. Working with a speech therapist in early childhood may also minimize the risk of it becoming a lifelong issue.
Have you ever known someone who stutters? How has The King’s Speech shaped your view of the condition? Chime in below!
