Speech Therapy in Pop Culture

Pop culture often evolves with the changing landscape of society, but certain representations remain lacking. May is National Speech, Language, and Hearing Month, and we would like to raise awareness about communication disorders and address the fact that narratives around these disorders are often incorrect. Speech impairments are common, with an estimated 5-10% of the US population experiencing them at some point in their lifetime. In this article, we’ll explore speech therapy in pop culture, including how hearing, speech, and language disabilities have been misconstrued in the media, and celebrities who have experienced hearing and speech disorders.

Misconceptions about Speech and Hearing in Movies

Stuttering is often portrayed in the media as weak, nervous, and unheroic, reinforcing the stereotype that people who stutter have these qualities. In Adam Sandler’s The Waterboy, Bobby Boucher is a shy, socially awkward football player who is bullied for his stutter, but his stutter disappears when he plays on the field, and he becomes a tough, aggressive player. Similarly, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Professor Quirrell pretends to have a stutter to appear weaker and present himself as a nervous and harmless person. However, when he stops pretending to be timid, his stutter disappears, and he is revealed as a powerful villain. Overall, stutterers are portrayed as weak, nervous, and unheroic, mischaracterizing people who stutter. 

For the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, misrepresentation also often happens in modern media. Media that is created about Deaf identity, but without Deaf people helping to produce, often leads to negative trends being continued. For example, the hearing world often believes that ASL is a perfect substitute for English. This is not the case, since ASL has a distinct syntax and descriptive linguistic features that differ markedly from those of spoken English. Additionally, when media roles are played by hearing actors, they often lack emotion and depth since they are not a part of the Deaf community. These pieces combined make for an often inaccurate and harmful representation of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people. 

Speech Therapy in Media

Additionally, speech therapists and their patients are sometimes portrayed in media such as film and TV. These portrayals vary but can be helpful, bringing attention to communication disorders and addressing misconceptions. One example is The King’s Speech, a 2010 historical drama about a king about to ascend to the throne of England, who is addressing his stutter with the help of a speech therapist. The techniques used in the film are historically accurate, though quite outdated. Although it isn’t representative of current advances and techniques in speech therapy, the film offers the audience insight into how an individual’s speech impairment may affect them and how much hard work is involved in the treatment process.

Celebrities with Speech and Hearing Impairments

Many people with hearing, speech, and language impairments may feel alone. However, many celebrities struggle with similar issues. Learn the stories of celebrities with hearing and speech impairments, and how they overcame them.

Marilyn Monroe

Movie star Marilyn Monroe struggled with a stutter that began in early childhood. It periodically resurfaced throughout her life when she felt nervous or overwhelmed. She worked with a speech therapist who taught her to breathe deliberately before speaking to counteract her stutter, contributing to the breathy voice she is famous for.

James Earl Jones

Actor James Earl Jones, known for his roles as Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, experienced a severe stutter that left him mute for the first eight years of his life. He was severely bullied for his stutter and wanted to give up speaking entirely until a teacher encouraged him to read poetry aloud to his class and join the debate team. This helped him to develop confidence and gradually overcome his stutter. His teacher’s patience and compassion illustrate the impact of high-quality intervention on people with speech disorders.

Tiger Woods

One of the most successful golfers of all time, Tiger Woods, struggled with a stutter throughout his childhood. He has spoken about how speech therapy helped him overcome it. His determination was evident on the golf course and at home, where Woods would practice talking to his dog until he fell asleep, working through his speech impediment. 

Michael Phelps

The most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, struggles with a lisp. He was bullied as a child and used swimming as an escape from the struggles and bullying he got for his speech impediment. Yet his lisp has never stopped him from succeeding.

William Shatner

Canadian actor William Shatner, known for playing Captain Kirk, developed tinnitus after being near a special effects explosion during the filming of Star Trek. The noise severely affected his quality of life, leading him to have thoughts of suicide. He sought professional help through Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and counseling and was able to treat his condition and find relief. 

Lou Ferrigno

Known for portraying The Incredible Hulk, he has had hearing loss since childhood, due to an ear infection at age 3. As a result, he has lost about 75% of his hearing and has worn hearing aids since age four. He is an advocate for hearing health and supports those with hearing impairments.

Conclusion

Accurate and inclusive representation in media comes with including people who struggle with hearing, speech, and language barriers. Hearing and speech impairments do not exempt anyone, and learning about the struggles many people face is one step toward normalizing and uplifting those who need it.