Hot Topic: Teen Stuttering

Actress Emily Blunt, Vice President Joe Biden, and millions of others have overcome speech impediments. Teen Vogue reader Julia Marzovilla shares what it's like to grow up with a stutter and offers tips on how teens can lend support.

Stuttering is a communication disorder that makes it difficult for words and sounds to come out fluidly. The exact cause of stuttering is unknown, but about one percent of the population stutters, and it's most common in children. Even actress Emily Blunt stuttered as a pre-teen. Emily didn't find solace in speech therapy, but she discovered that speaking with an accent while doing a class play actually helped her stop stuttering. Emily told New York Magazine: "I had a really amazing teacher at that age, when I was twelve, and he was really kind and helpful and encouraged me to be in the class plays, which previously I had no interest in being in 'cause I couldn't talk.... Once you're able to hear yourself speak fluently, albeit in a ridiculous accent, you gain the confidence to think this could happen again and again. It was easier after that night."

Sixteen-year-old Julia Marzovilla reached out to Teen Vogue because she wants to bring attention to an issue that many teens often do not understand, and stop the teasing of those who stutter. Julia bravely shared her story with us, and we encourage you to follow suit and speak up if there's a topic that you would like Teen Vogue to address.

How has your stutter impacted your life?

"Stuttering has been a major roadblock in my life. I have always been insecure about it, but my stutter definitely doesn't stop me from talking or being who I am, and I'm really proud of that. So many people are shy and quiet about their stutter and withdraw into silence, but I chose to be vocal, no matter how difficult it may be for me."

How do other kids make you feel about your stutter?

"I think that kids tend to make fun of things that they don't know much about, and because it is fairly uncommon for a girl to stutter, most people find it odd. It was harder when I was younger, but it's getting better with age. Contrary to popular belief, stuttering has nothing to do with the person's intelligence or ability to understand."

What can your peers specifically do to help you when you're struggling to pronounce a word?

"Even more important than what happens during an incident is what happens after. One very poignant moment for me occurred at camp this previous summer. I was having one of my most severe blocks on the word 'glitter,' making it impossible for me to get anything out besides the initial 'gl' sound. I sat on my bed and refused to talk to anyone. My counselor pulled me outside the cabin, sat me down, and asked that I yell 'glitter!' at the top of my lungs. I looked back at her thinking she was crazy—that is until she began to scream 'glitter!' at the top of her lungs. In those few minutes she had taken me from feeling angry and embarrassed to making me laugh. By listening and understanding, she made it seem like my stutter wasn't a big deal."

Do you have any tips on how to ask adults for support?

"I've found that being blunt with my teachers about my stutter is the best way. Although it may seem scary at first, it really helps and will make a major impact on your life at school if you simply tell them that you stutter. One of my teachers who didn't know I stuttered would always finish words for me because she thought I didn't know them. After class one day, I simply told her that I stuttered and that I did know most of the words. From then on, she's been really helpful by not finishing words for me."

Why is stuttering so important to address?

"So many people, including myself, get picked on and made fun of because of something that they can't help or change. I'm tired of wishing someone would speak out about stuttering—I want to be that person! I want everyone to feel comfortable, no matter what disabilities they may have."

What can teens do to be more sensitive to this impediment?

"Teens need to treat stuttering as any other disability and not make fun of or tease those who have a speech impediment. They should recognize that the simple act of speaking can be stressful for a stutterer. They shouldn't make it worse by snickering or laughing. Both teens and adults need to be patient with the stutterer and not finish sentences, which is my personal pet peeve, or tell the person to take a breath, hurry up, or slow down."

What support networks are out there for teens who stutter?

"Groups like the National Stuttering Association's T.W.S.T. (Teens Who Stutter) have support groups all over the country. Friends Who Stutter holds annual conventions for young people, and is a group that connects stutterers through video chat. There is even Our Time Theater Company, a non-profit organization that uses acting to help children who stutter."

What do you think?


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