A recent study by the University of Florida has unveiled that individuals who stutter face significant disadvantages in earnings, employment opportunities, and job satisfaction compared to their non-stuttering counterparts. This investigation, spearheaded by a researcher from the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, meticulously analysed data spanning over two decades from those afflicted by stuttering to understand its long-term impacts on professional outcomes. The research findings have been published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
The study highlighted a consistent disparity in income across all levels. Still, it is particularly noted in the higher salary bracket of $100,000, where individuals who stutter are nearly four times less likely to earn this amount or more. Additionally, the research found that individuals who stutter are 25% more likely to express job dissatisfaction, a sentiment that tends to increase as time progresses. Dr Molly Jacobs, the study’s lead author and an associate professor of health services research, management and policy, emphasised the importance of job satisfaction as it correlates directly to employee turnover and retention—key factors contributing to economic stability and productivity within the workforce. Dr. Jacobs expressed concern over the low levels of job satisfaction among respondents with stuttering, suggesting a general sense of unhappiness and unfulfillment at work among this group.
Stuttering is identified as a neurodevelopmental condition affecting around 3 million Americans. It is commonly seen in young children, with many outgrowing the condition by age five or six. However, about 3% to 5% of these children will continue to experience stuttering into adulthood. Despite the absence of a cure, various treatments can enhance speech fluency. These treatments are vital and should remain accessible to adults, as early career choices influenced by stuttering could lead to what is known as role entrapment—where individuals might opt for or be directed towards roles that demand less verbal interaction.
The study utilised data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health by utilising collaborative efforts from Dr. Hope Gerlach-Houck of Western Michigan University and Dr. Patrick Briley of East Carolina University. This nationally representative study has monitored participants for decades, collecting extensive data on their social, economic, psychological, and physical well-being. The findings reveal that in their late teens and early twenties, those who stutter were less likely to expect to attend college or earn a middle-class income. This outlook seemed to predict poorer employment outcomes later in life, as evidenced in follow-up surveys conducted when participants were in their late thirties to early forties, showing that those who stutter reported significantly lower earnings and were less likely to have graduated from college.
The researchers suggest multiple reasons behind these employment disparities, including discrimination, self-stigmatisation, and the sheer exhaustion and frustration that come with stuttering. While further research is necessary to understand these dynamics fully, the current findings underscore the urgent need for continued support and resources for adults who stutter.
Dr. Jacobs also advocates for a more supportive workplace environment for individuals with speech fluency challenges, urging patience and understanding from coworkers. She points out that hurrying someone who stutters or speaks over them fails to assist and does not benefit the workplace environment. Allowing individuals the time they need to communicate is a small but significant step towards inclusivity, leveraging the unique contributions everyone can make to their workplace.
More information: Molly Jacobs et al, Differential Impacts of Anticipated Success on Employment Outcomes Among Adults Who Stutter, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. DOI: 10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00202
Journal information: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology Provided by University of Florida