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At Long Last, A Positive Portrayal of Stuttering

2011; American Speech–Language–Hearing Association; Volume: 16; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1044/leader.ftr2.16022011.13

1085-9586

Judith Maginnis Kuster,

Stuttering Research and Treatment

You have accessThe ASHA LeaderFeature1 Feb 2011At Long Last, A Positive Portrayal of Stuttering Judith Maginnis KusterMS, CCC-SLP Judith Maginnis Kuster Google Scholar More articles by this author , MS, CCC-SLP https://doi.org/10.1044/leader.FTR2.16022011.13 SectionsAbout ToolsAdd to favorites ShareFacebookTwitterLinked In http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2011/110215/At-Long-Last,-A-Positive-Portrayal-of-Stuttering.htm Years ago, after much searching, I found a disc recording of King George VI’s speech, delivered Sept. 3, 1939, to use as an example of “famous people who stutter” in my stuttering course. The Internet has made the king’s speech much easier to find (see sidebar). Now this historical event has become the subject of the award-winning film, “The King’s Speech” (TKS), which provides a sympathetic and accurate portrayal of stuttering Since The King’s Speech movie was released, have you noticed an increase in speech-language therapy requests? Take our poll! The script was written by the very patient David Seidler, a person who stutters; he promised the Queen Mum it wouldn’t be produced until after her death, which occurred in 2002 at age 101. Seidler was interviewed on StutterTalk and he will be honored by Our Time Theatre Company at its April 11 gala in New York City. He also will keynote two conferences in July—the FRIENDS conference on July 21—23 in Washington, D.C., and the National Stuttering Association conference on July 6—10 in Fort Worth, Texas. The film brings together three actors from the British version of “Pride and Prejudice”—Lizzy, Darcy, and Mr. Collins—and features an actress in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Their acting, and the film itself, have received high critical praise (search “The King’s Speech” for numerous reviews). A Different Perspective Speech-language professionals and people who stutter may view the film from a different perspective. Some of its ideas are dated of course, as the film depicts the 1930s and 1940s. The professionals in the film use techniques that are now thoroughly discredited—marbles in the mouth and smoking to “relax the throat” (which probably contributed to the king’s death of lung cancer). Other film ideas were current at the time but no longer hold—stuttering is caused by forcing a left-handed child to become right-handed, adult stuttering may be “cured,” and stuttering is caused by a harsh upbringing. As Bowen noted in the previous article, Lionel Logue was trained in elocution, not speech therapy, but some of the methods he used in the film (whether or not they were what he actually did) are still credible. In many ways Logue was a good “therapist.” Recognizing motivation as essential in therapy, rather than forcing the issue, he waited until the king was “ready.” He established an ideal clinical relationship—supportive, reinforcing, encouraging—and an equality between client and therapist. Logue made it clear that stuttering was not just a physical/motor problem yet allowed the the king to set the initial goal of working on physical/motor symptoms. Logue demonstrated the temporary fluency-enhancing effects of masking, singing, speaking loudly, and cursing, but his therapy included much more. He involved the family (the queen) in therapy and used techniques still part of some therapy programs today—desensitization through continuous practice, encouragement for the king to explore ways to expand his “comfort zone,” relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, and continuous phonation. Other techniques shown in the film are pausing, bouncing, light contacts, gliding into a word with a slight prolongation, emphasizing how sounds are produced, focusing on “forward moving,” starting a problem word with a slight exhale, and monitoring rate. The film made it clear there are no “quick fixes” and that the client/clinician “relationship” is more important than techniques taught to the client. Although the king’s stuttering was not “cured,” he became an effective communicator. The king demonstrated his increased self-confidence after his great “speech” with a flash of humor. Logue told the king, “You still stammered on the ‘w,’” and the king replied, “I had to throw in a few extra ones so they knew it was me.” Actor Colin Firth, who played the king, found that quote in the Logue diary. In an interview, Firth said that when he found it, he thought, “We’ve got to have that in the film.” Public Outreach Media interest in “The King’s Speech” and stuttering in general has been strong. Tommie L. Robinson Jr., ASHA immediate past president, has participated in interviews with a variety of media, including the Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, Hollywood Reporter, abcnews.com, Washington Post Express, Insiders Health Radio, KLOS Radio, Society for Human Resource Management, Florida Times-Union, Vancouver Sun, Women’s Day, and WBTM-1330 radio (go online for clips). ASHA member Vivian Susskin appeared on the Washington, D.C., Fox News affiliate in a segment on the movie and treatment SLPs provide to stutterers. In the United Kingdom, the British Stammering Association (BSA) has provided members with detailed instructions on how to use the film to educate the public about stuttering, and calls the film it a “once-in-a-generation moment to create change.” The BSA’s chief executive interviewed Colin Firth, and members and others in the United Kingdom have been interviewed and written articles about their stammering and the impact TKS has had on public awareness. A few examples in the British press: My name is Jackie Bird, newsreader and lifelong stammerer The Observer’s film critic, Philip French: my life as a stammerer. The King’s Speech,” a stammerer’s view by Leys Geddes The National Stuttering Association calls TKS a “compelling story of a real-life hero.” Many NSA members, professionals, and consumers have distributed literature after film screenings and have been interviewed for newspapers, television, and radio. Stuttering in Other Movies Stuttering has long been portrayed in films and on television. Below are some sources of coverage: Kuster’s Stuttering Home Page under Stuttering in the Popular Media. Gerald Johnson, “A Clinical Study of Porky Pig Cartoons.” Jeffrey Johnson, “The Visualization of the Twisted Tongue: Portrayals of Stuttering in Film, Television, and Comic Books.” Short clips of several films demonstrating stuttering are online: Biochips YouTube channel includes clips from “A Fish Called Wanda,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “It,” and “Primal Fear.” The weekly podcast, StutterTalk compiled a video collection featuring clips from “The Cowboys,” “Rocket Science,” “Do The Right Thing,” “Glory,” “102 Dalmatians,” “The Court Jester,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “The Hurricane,” and “The Last Castle”. Barry Harbaugh’s “History of Stuttering in the Movies” slide show on SLATE includes embedded film clips from “Freaks,” “The Cowboy,” “Paulie,” “It,” “Girl Shy,” “Darkly Noon,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “My Cousin Vinnie,” “Rocket Science,” and “The Mirror.” Several films and television productions portray stuttering well, including “Paulie,” “The Right Stuff,” “Rocket Science,” and episodes on “Little House on the Prairie” and “M.A.S.H.” Most agree, however, that the best depiction of stuttering in film was accomplished by Firth in “The King’s Speech.” Turning the Tide on Negative Stereotypes Feature films and television shows have frequently used a stutter to depict a flawed character, creating unfortunate stereotypes that affect public perception of stuttering. People Who Stutter Can’t Handle a Crisis “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)—Before torturing the lead character, his captor promises to release him if he can count to three without stuttering. Under pressure, he can’t. “Pearl Harbor” (2001)—When the attack on Pearl Harbor begins, Red cannot warn his friends because of his stutter. “Urban Legend” (1998)—A gas station attendant who stutters cannot warn a customer about an ax murderer in the back seat of her car. “The Cowboys” (1972)—A boy who stutters cannot tell an adult that another boy is drowning. “Billy Budd” (1962)—Accused of mutiny, Billy, unable to defend himself because of his stutter, strikes his accuser. The accuser dies, and Billy is convicted of killing an officer and hanged. Stuttering Is Comical or Something to Mock “Die Hard With a Vengeance” (1995)—When the “bad guy” stutters on the phone, Bruce Willis mocks him. “My Cousin Vinny” (1992)—An incompetent public defender stutters. “A Fish Called Wanda” (1988)—Ken, a hit-man and animal lover, stutters severely. Stuttering Is a Symptom of a Psychological Flaw or an Evil Person “Harry Potter, the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)—Professor Quirrell fakes stuttering to fool people. “Primal Fear” (1996)—Aaron Stampler uses stuttering to get away with murder. “Trois Vies et Une Seule Mort” (Three Lives & Only One Death) (1996)—The stammering character pimps his own wife. “The Passion of Darkly Noon” (1995)—A conflicted stutterer descends into madness after the death of his strictly religious parents. “Color of Night” (1994)—A psychotherapist calls a teenager a “nut case” for using violence when someone makes fun of his stuttering. “Dead Again” (1991)—Frankie is a “disturbed boy,” a kleptomaniac, and a murderer. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1977)—Billy Bibbit, a stutterer in a mental ward, commits suicide. The viewer is led to conclude his stuttering was caused by a psychological problem. For more... Extensive coverage by The Stuttering Foundation. See “The King’s Speech” movie trailer. Hear the real “King’s speech.” Interview with screenwriter David Seidler on StutterTalk. Interview with Colin Firth by executive director of the British Stammering Association. National Stuttering Association (See “Press Room”). Author Notes is a professor in the Department of Speech, Hearing, and Rehabilitation Services at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Contact her at [email protected]. An archive of all of Kuster’s columns can be found at www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster4/leader.html. URLs change, however, and there is no guarantee that links from previous columns are still functional. Additional Resources FiguresSourcesRelatedDetails Volume 16Issue 2February 2011 Get Permissions Add to your Mendeley library History Published in print: Feb 1, 2011 Metrics Downloaded 3,244 times Topicsasha-topicsleader_do_tagleader-topicsasha-article-typesCopyright & Permissions© 2011 American Speech-Language-Hearing AssociationLoading ...