Stigma and stuttering: Conceptualizations, applications, and coping

Stuttering is a disorder of communication that for many people extends far beyond overt instances of disfluent speech. The multidimensional nature of the disorder includes cognitive, affective, and social components. Because stuttering manifests mostly in social situations, there are bound to be social consequences, many of which are negative and may impact the individual who stutters. The public’s negative reactions toward stuttering and people who stutter are relevant to the concept of stuttering being classified as a stigmatized disorder. This chapter will focus on the stigma of being a person who stutters. We will first review various conceptualizations and models of stigma, and how these notions of stigma are relevant for people who stutter.