The Impact Of Stuttering On Development Of Self-Identity, Relationships, And Quality Of Life
There's a prevailing misconception that people stutter when they are experiencing intense emotions like anxiety, fear, or embarrassment. The truth is that - Stuttering is a childhood-onset fluency disorder. It is a complex communication disorder that has several potential causes (Yairi and Seery, 2015).
Anxiety, fear, and embarrassment make already existing stuttering worse in people who stutter. However, intense feelings and emotions don't cause stuttering.
What is stuttering?
Stuttering is more than just another speech disfluency. It includes the tension and negative emotions one feels when they are about to talk. A large part of any stuttering treatment is overcoming the fear of stuttering.
People who stutter spend a significant part of their energy and time trying to hide their stutter. It interferes with how you interact with others and how you view yourself. As a result, several individuals who stutter evade certain situations, replace words in conversations or avoid conversations altogether.
Tasks as simple as answering the phone may seem like a huge challenge to someone who has been stuttering since their childhood.
Self-Identity of a person who stutters
More than 71% of the participants of a survey stated that they felt "very bad" when called "stutterers." We prefer person-first language –people who stutter (PWS) or children who stutter (CWS).
Several PWS consider stuttering to be an integral part of who they are. While the way we talk and interact with others is indeed a part of who we are, it should not limit us.
Yes. It is incredibly discouraging and debilitating to not be able to say a simple sentence like “hey, how are you doing?” without stuttering.
It may make a person withdraw and become guarded. That makes PWS seem more anxious. We have been stereotyped as nervous, guarded, introverted/withdrawn, sensitive, insecure, hesitant, and self-conscious. (Davis, Howell, & Cooke, 2002). In truth, many people who stutter are afraid of being judged by the way they speak rather than what they have to say. As a result, PWS often stay quiet in meetings, social gatherings, and even while hanging out with friends. It takes a significant toll on one's self-confidence and mental health.
PWS may experience crises in self-identity since a majority of the society fails to see the person behind the stutter. The inability to accept one's stuttering as an integral part of their lives leads to a cycle of negative thoughts and feelings.
The reason is simple – people who stutter are much more than their speech disfluency. They strive to become successful individuals despite their stuttering. PWS can be motivational speakers, authors, entrepreneurs, actors, musicians, comedians, pilots, engineers, medical professionals, researchers, speech therapists, and more!
Impact on Relationships
In today’s fast-paced world where digital dating has become the second nature, people who stutter often find themselves in a lonely and helpless situation.
Growing up facing mockery, ridicule, and bullying from peers is not an easy feat. And it takes a toll on one's confidence. It is only normal for PWS to feel scared of the judgment they may receive due to their speech disfluency. That only makes dating and romantic relationships all the more difficult for the person. It is indeed difficult to accept love from others when a person is unable to accept and love oneself!
Workplace relationships aren’t easy either! Apart from the perceived lack of confidence and anxiety, PWS have to deal with pre-conceived notions like – those who stutter get easily nervous. We lose opportunities because we are either too unsure about ourselves. Or, because the hiring panel deems someone who stutters unfit for the position.
Speaking at meetings and presentations is a challenge each time. Throughout the early part of our lives, we have trained ourselves to remain quiet instead of stuttering through our opinions.
Quality of Life
The severity of one’s stutter has a direct impact on their quality of life (QOL) – the more severe the stutter, the worse a person feels.
Small things like blocking on a "hi" can make PWS go over the conversation time and again, wishing they could have said it differently. Beating ourselves up for stuttering on a simple sentence is something almost everyone who stutters can relate to.
Constructing a positive identity for PWS can be challenging. One's QOL can only improve if the person's self-perception and state of mind improve. If you believe that your quality of life is less than good due to your stuttering, don’t lose hope!
A majority of the PWS who do not attend speech therapy and psychological counseling report increased negative feelings and attitudes about themselves and their lives.
The primary role of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is to improve the QOL of a PWS. Even when you cannot reach out to a speech therapist or SLP in your locality, you can still access affordable speech therapy and stuttering treatment that aim to improve the quality of your life.
What is good QOL according to someone who stutters?
According to someone who stutters, good quality of life includes the ability to choose to be healthy and positive mentally and physically. They also emphasize being able to speak freely.
Most importantly, with increasing confidence and self-esteem, someone who stutters should be able to feel happy and content with who they are while embracing their stuttering.
What should we never forget about stuttering and those who stutter?
We need to accept that stuttering does not have a magic cure and the only way to improve our outlook on life is by accepting who we are. Even adults can improve their self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-image by attending regular speech therapy and counseling sessions with trained and licensed professionals.
The USA now has a President who stutters and owns it! We have renowned sports personalities, authors, actors, and entrepreneurs as our role models. Stuttering should not limit or define our dreams.
The quality of life can only improve when the general population becomes more aware of the nature and causes of stuttering. It is not something to be ridiculed or trivialized. A person does not deserve humiliation because s/he is incapable of speaking conventionally. Stuttering is just another way of speaking for more than 1% of the adult population.
