Stuttering, Redefined: From Fixing Speech To Honoring The Speaker
Author: Kendra Wormald, Reg. CASLPO Speech Language Pathologist
Date: Wednesday, July 09, 2025
Table of Contents
Impact of Stuttering on Well-being
Emotional Impact
Social Impact
Functional Impact
Psychological Impact
Person Who Stutters
Person Who Doesn’t Stutter
Speech Therapists
What is Fluency, Really?
The traditional definition of fluency is glazed with words such as “smooth, forward flowing, uninterrupted, and consistent (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.). Fluency can refer to how well you use language such as avoiding the use of fillers and hesitations and flowing forward with and across ideas with ease and efficiency. Fluency also refers to the tempo and rhythm of getting sounds and words out.
What is a Fluency Disorder?
All people are dysfluent at some point. Even elevated speakers such as Brene Brown, Martin Luther King Jr., Jane Goodall, and Barack Obama have been dysfluent, likely on several occasions.
Compared to someone who uses fillers here and there, someone with a fluency disorder often experiences an “interruption of the flow of speech that can negatively impact an individual's communication effectiveness and efficiency, and willingness to speak ” (ASHA, 2025).
To learn more about the types and causes of dysfluency disorders see our articles on:
Why Stuttering Isn’t Just “The Absence of Fluency”
The classical definition of stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by disturbances in the normal fluency and time patterning of speech. These include repetitions of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongations of sounds; and interruptions in speech known as blocks and words produced with excess physical tension. These classical definitions focus on effortlessness, avoiding dysfluencies and speaking in an uninterrupted way (ASHA, 2025; DSM-5,2013, WHO, 2025 ).
We often take a definition at face value. But I challenge you to consider how definitions can be limiting. In the world of stuttering, this is unfortunately the case. Although defined by esteemed and accredited organizations, these above definitions miss the mark on what it actually means to stutter.
What about the internal experience?
If someone appears fluent, as in they don’t use any fillers or get stuck on a sound - but no one hears their anxious thoughts hoping they won’t stutter, were they impacted by dysfluency? Or when someone is fluent yet they avoid all the words and sounds they know trigger their stutter? Yes, yes they were impacted by dysfluency. Our classical definitions don't acknowledge the very real and often very taxing emotional and psychological impact stuttering may have - whether it was outwardly observable or not. Stuttering is not just a visible or audible experience.
What’s your SLP assessing for?
These definitions also guide the recommendations for assessment protocols. Often, assessment revolves around quantifiable measures such as frequency and severity of the stuttering moments, along with any observable physical reactions. Your assessment should also include some form of self-report on your internal experience. This should include an opportunity to share about how you perceive stuttering has impacted your life, avoidance levels and tendencies, and feelings around communicating and beliefs and emotions about themselves as communicators. Stuttering is not a surface level experience.
What’s the goal?
These definitions also frame stuttering in a negative way - something that should be ‘fixed’. This mentality reinforces stigma and ableism around the beliefs that fluency is tied to intelligence, value, and professionalism. It’s time we shift our thinking around stuttering - as Speech Therapists, those who stutter and as the general public. Stuttering is not a defect needing to be corrected, it is a valid way of speaking.
Impact of Stuttering on Well-being
Someone who experiences dysfluency may be impacted in several different areas of their life and in several different ways. The impact of stuttering often doesn’t stay in the moment. Clients who I provide speech therapy for stuttering, have often commented on stuttering taking over their life, with it being top of mind nearly all day.
The following reviews just some of the implications stuttering has on aspects of well-being:
Emotional Impact: Clients have often expressed this as being the most challenging aspect of stuttering. Someone with a fluency disorder may experience emotions of shame, embarrassment, self consciousness, anxious, avoidant, lonely, isolated, angry, grief, among others
Social Impact: The impact of how they are perceived and treated by others may lead to not being included, or avoiding and withdrawal from in person or phone conversations, introducing themselves or going for friendship or romantic opportunities.
Someone who stutters may also take into considerable consideration how others react to their dysfluency.
Functional Impact: This refers to the impact on daily and real-word tasks such as school, work, errands and self care. You may pass up an opportunity to lead a project, speaking with stakeholders or executives, going for an interview or for a promotion. It may impact your ability to do presentations for class, experience challenges speaking up and participation in school or avoiding ordering something when speaking to a cashier or barista.
Psychological Impact: This refers to the beliefs, thoughts, mental health and identity of the person. You may experience distorted thoughts such as “ If I stutter, I fail”, People don’t take me seriously, If I stutter in the interview I won’t get the job” Beliefs from how others react and personal narratives may significantly impact the person's self-identify, self-esteem and overall confidence
These impacts often interact. For instance, a negative social experience (e.g., being laughed at) can cause emotional distress, lead to negative beliefs, and result in avoidance of future communication.
Shifting Language and Beliefs
Person Who Stutters
How you speak to yourself matters, this is just as true for the thoughts you have about yourself as a communicator. It’s okay to want to change and it’s okay to accept yourself as you are, at the same time. Consider the below and your own negative automatic thoughts around stuttering. Where do these beliefs come from? What’s the evidence? How can you shift the thoughts to be affirming?
From: I shouldn't speak, I’m going to stutter
To: I deserve to share my thoughts, even if I stutter
From: I never speak well, I always stutter
To: I can communicate clearly and confidently - fluency is not the only measure
From: People will think I’m stupid if I stutter
To: My intelligence isn’t defined by how fluently I speak
From: I’ll never do well in job interviews
To: I can do hard things - even as I stutter
From: I need to rush through this so I don’t stutter
To: My voice is worth of space, time, and respect
From: What if it makes them feel awkward
To: Other people’s discomfort is not my responsibility
Check Your Bias
Do I take less opportunities because I believe I’ll come across as unintelligent if I stutter?
Do I feel ashamed when I stutter?
Do I blame myself when I can’t get words out?
Do I feel I’m a burden when I speak slowly?
Do I avoid speaking in situations because I fear I’m going to stutter?
Do I feel I deserve less because I stutter?
Person Who Doesn’t Stutter
How you react and treat people who stutter can have a profound impact on that person’s communication experience and well-being, including but not limited to all the ways mentioned above. Consider the following perspectives and their supportive and reframed examples.
From: It’s awkward to listen to someone who stutters
To: Awkwardness is my own to feel - the way they communicate is valid
From: They must be nervous or not prepared
To: Stuttering isn’t a sign of nervousness - it’s how people naturally speak
From: I should finish their sentence
To: I should give them time to finish - showing respect and trust in their voice
From: They probably don’t want to speak publicly
To: Assumptions like this silences people and takes their power away
Check Your Bias
Ask yourself the following questions. Reflect on what these thoughts and beliefs about stuttering are rooted in, would you like to change them and how might you do that?
Do I give the person enough time and space to express themselves fully?
Do I finish their sentences for them? What message does this communicate? Why do I do this, really?
How do I respond when someone stutters? Do I feel uncomfortable, embarrassed?Why?
Do I associate speed of speaking as professional or confident or competent? Why do you associate fluency with effectiveness?
Would you feel comfortable if your manner of speaking was under a microscope - seen as a negative, as a problem?
Speech Therapists
From: Let’s make you sound fluent
To: Let’s help you speak freely, be heard, and feel confident—even if you stutter.
From: Let’s look at how frequently you stuttered
To: Let’s reflect on how you felt as you spoke
From: Success is when you speak more fluently
To: You are already successful when you show up, speak and share your voice
From: Fluent speech is the goal
To: Empowered communication is the goal - fluency is just one way to get there
From: Let’s work on getting rid of your stutter
To: Let’s work on removing the shame around your stutter
Check Your Bias
Ask yourself the following questions. Reflect on what these thoughts and beliefs about stuttering are rooted in, would you like to change them and how might you do that?
Do I automatically view stuttering as something to fix or decrease?
How do I split my time between reducing stuttering and supportive communication confidence?
Does fluency percentage equal therapy success? Why?
What messages do I send around the importance of fluency vs. authenticity?
Do my body language show comfort and patience when my client stutters?
Famous Voices on Stuttering and Self-Acceptance
Some may find inspiration in seeing how other people who stutter - stutter and their journey with it. Public speakers, actors/actresses, singers and public figures also stutter, people such as Adam Sandler, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Joe Biden, Bruce Willis - to name a few. Take a look at this list, I think you’ll be surprised and inspired.
“I was really ashamed of my stutter, but now I’ve learned that it’s just part of who I am, and it doesn’t define my worth.” - Emily Blunt
“Confidence comes not from perfect speech but from accepting yourself as you are.” King George VI - The King’s Speech
Samuel L. Jackson (Actor): “Stuttering didn’t stop me from speaking my truth.” Samuel L. Jackson
Some more inspirational quotes can be found here
Conclusion: A Holistic and Empowering Approach
We must move beyond our understanding of fluency and embrace agency, voice, and authenticity. We need to embrace the uniqueness of the way we communicate. In order to do that, we must approach stuttering with empathy, inclusivity and empowerment. Stuttering is not merely about speech disruptions - it’s about being heard.
References
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Fluency. In Cambridge English Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fluency
The Stuttering Foundation (22025). Famous People Who Stutter. https://www.stutteringhelp.org/famouspeople
Gerlach, H., Subramanian, A., Wislar, E.(2020). Stuttering and Its Invisibility. frontiers. https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fry
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