It’s time to talk about The King’s Speech (Disorder)

Communication problems have long been a sensitive topic, with people rightfully concerned about the feelings of those involved. But a window opened for us with the release of The King’s Speech and the topic of stuttering as the central issue of the Academy Award winning movie. Let’s shed some light on this topic!

Speech professionals (and those who stutter) are profoundly grateful for the positive imagery and role models for the nearly 68 million people worldwide who grapple daily with the indignities of speech dysfluency, as it is known. Remember, there was a time when we had only Porky Pig as a role model!

As a therapist, I am so happy to see portrayed the perfect relationship between therapist and patient, an alliance built upon unbreakable trust, mutual respect and friendship.

On the down side, I believe that the movie seems to support a ‘psychological’ causation of stuttering. Modern research, however, shows that there is a consistent brain motor function - a physiological difference - associated with speech dysfluency, making it a disease just like any other.

For more information, search out the Stuttering Foundation of America on line. Lots of information there.

OR, if you’d like to actually discuss this issue with me, get a ticket to the Annual Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner of The Commonwealth Club, on Tuesday, March 15 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. This year they are featuring “Table conversation with some of the Bay Area’s most interesting people”. I will be the hostess for a table devoted to The King’s Speech. For more information about the dinner please go to www.commonwealthclub.org/annualdinner/

And for more information about your speech concerns, seek out It’s the Way You Say It, Dr. Fleming’s new book about the communication needs of the general public.