Biggest Misconceptions
Hello! I am a second year graduate student who is studying to become a future SLP. I am currently taking a fluency course and have enjoyed learning more about stuttering as I knew very little before the course. As a PWS, what do you believe are the biggest misconceptions that people have about stuttering? What do you wish people knew about stuttering before they made any assumptions? In addition, how would you go about trying to break these misconceptions?
Hello! This topic is something I’ve felt strongly about throughout my upbringing. I’ve often felt the misconception that one must fit the stereotype that TV and media impose on stuttering. Stuttering is often portrayed as a somewhat unattractive and nerdy characteristic of a person. A person who is perhaps a bit nervous, unpopular, and a loner. Now, this is not necessarily something negative or bad; some people may be nervous, and popularity is not equally important to everyone. My point is that this makes people who are the complete opposite of everything mentioned above feel like they don’t fit into their own difficulty.
This was difficult for me growing up; I didn’t feel like I fit into the stereotype I saw on TV or in movies whenever stuttering was mentioned in words or subtitles. My main passion within working with stuttering is how we talk about it and how we portray it on social media, TV, and in films, so that we are not only associated with weird, nervous people like Professor Quirrel in ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,’ for example. I want stuttering to be for everyone, and to show the diversity of people who stutter, so that everyone can feel at home with the difficulty and that the stigma can be combated through this.
Every time I hear or see this misconception, I think of Jens Stoltenberg (NATO Secretary-General) or Marilyn Monroe! Successful, confident individuals who, despite stuttering, have made a name for themselves and are known for everything other than their stutter!
Hi there!
Touching on what Ylva said, the portrayal of stuttering in TV and movies has been a big one. That has, and still does, bother me. I don’t know of any recent shows or movies that portrayed stuttering in a negative light but I know they do exist. That’s what gets me most: other disabilities are off-limits (as they should be) as far as poking fun at but stuttering is okay.
Aside from that, the most bothersome misconception for me is equaling stuttering to a lack of intelligence. Growing up, I actually started to believe it. Thankfully, I can take a lot of comfort in knowing that that is not the case by a long shot. After all, I’ve come to meet other stutterers who are aerospace engineers, psychiatrists, lawyers, teachers, you name it. Even those who don’t work in those fields are some of the brightest I’ve met.
One instance that really bugged me happened back in high school. Where I lived, there was a mass shooting at the city’s transit depot by a disgruntled ex-employee. It was later revealed that the gunman was a person who stuttered. I remember there were one or two publications that insinuated that because this was a person who stuttered, he was dangerous. That really hurt me but I was very irritated by that. Thankfully, it didn’t get the traction I thought it would but it was nonetheless hurtful and unnecessary.
If there are any silver linings to any of these misconceptions, it’s that it paves for a good opportunity to educate others. That’s what I try to do and that’s what many others do, as well.
Agreed with above. I’d also say it’s always bugged me that people think PWS are shy. Or introverted. There are no character traits like this you can identify. Many stutterers are outgoing – some of us have social anxiety so it can be a challenge to see this extroversion.
There’s an idea to “play to your strengths” as if my strength wouldn’t be speaking. Very frustrating.
Hi Spickle
I was raised to think I was less a person. Never enough. I should not study, nor find a proper job, as I wouldn’t be able to anyway, because of my stutter. I was nice and intelligent, if only I wouldn’t stutter. At written tests I had great grades, but during oral tests they told me to stop, as “I hadn’t done my homework”, simply because I couldn’t get the words out. One doctor started talking to my husband about me, when he heard I stutter. Sometimes people start talking slower, louder and articulate more, as if I needed that to understand. When I asked for the time, one man pointed at his watch to show me the time, as if I couldn’t hear him. One train station host startled, took my hand and my bag and said “Don’t be nervous, I’ll take you to the train”. (I was 30 something…) And I always worry at customs if they stop me and think I’m lying, simply because I stutter.
So I wear my buttons, f ex the one with my quote “Sure I stutter. What are you good at?” and other funny quotes (check out Franky Banky buttons). This shows I’m OK with my stutter and it’s ok to ask me questions. And sometimes I clear the floor directly saying “Just so you know I stutter, in case you wonder” to directly get the elephant out of the room. And from that moment on we can have a conversation, just like any others.
I’m not nervous about my stutter, but I can understand that my listener is nervous, not knowing how to deal with my stutter. So when I notice that, I make a joke about my stutter to show the can just relax. What does bother me however, is when people “know” stuttering and start giving me “advice”. To take a deep breath. Telling me there is this weekend course where… I once got “advice” to skip the first letter of every word, as PWS stutter on the first letter of a word. -s -f -is -ould -e -sier -o -nderstand, -ight?. If I’m in a good mood I smile or walk away, or even explain. If I’m annoyed, they will learn that there’s nothing wrong with my sarcasm. 😉
Keep them talking
Anita