A recent study from the University of Florida reveals that individuals who stutter earn less, often find themselves underemployed, and report lower job satisfaction compared to those who do not stutter.
Conducted by a researcher from the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, this study analyzed data spanning two decades from people who stutter to understand how their condition impacts career outcomes over time. The results have been published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
Income gaps were apparent across all earning brackets, most notably at the $100,000 salary mark, where stutterers were almost four times less likely to earn this amount compared to non-stutterers. Additionally, individuals who stutter were about 25% less likely to express job satisfaction, with dissatisfaction levels rising over time.
“While job satisfaction might not seem like a direct indicator of income, it is crucial from an economic standpoint due to its correlation with employee turnover and retention. These are key attributes for maintaining an efficient and productive workforce,” explained Molly Jacobs, Ph.D., the lead author and an associate professor of health services research, management, and policy. “Given that working adults spend a large part of their lives at their jobs, it was alarming to find that most respondents who stutter reported low satisfaction, indicating they might feel unhappy and unfulfilled at work.”
Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting around 3 million Americans. About one-third of young children may stutter, but it typically resolves by ages 5 or 6. Yet, between 3% and 5% of those who stutter as children will continue into adulthood. Although there is no definitive cure for stuttering, various treatments can enhance speech fluency, and it is vital for these services to remain accessible for adults.
As young adults who stutter begin their careers, they may choose or be directed toward jobs that require minimal verbal interaction, a situation referred to as role entrapment.
“Those who face challenges in speaking or feel they do may lean toward positions that don’t involve frequent communication or interaction,” Jacobs noted. “Sadly, jobs that require more face-to-face interaction—often offering better pay—are often avoided.”
For their research, Jacobs and her colleagues, Hope Gerlach-Houck, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, from Western Michigan University, and Patrick Briley, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, from East Carolina University, utilized data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. This comprehensive, nationally representative study follows participants for years, gathering information on their social, economic, psychological, and physical well-being, as well as their family background, neighborhood, community, school experiences, friendships, peer relationships, and romantic involvements.
The researchers observed that in their late teens and early twenties, individuals who stutter were less optimistic about attending college or earning a middle-class income. Subsequent surveys taken in their late 30s and early 40s revealed that these earlier beliefs significantly predicted their job outcomes, with stutterers reporting notably lower incomes and being less likely to have completed a college education.
Several factors likely contribute to these workplace inequalities, the researchers explained, including discrimination, self-stigmatization, and the mental fatigue associated with stuttering itself. Further research is necessary to explore these influences, but the current study underscores the ongoing need for support and resources for adults who stutter, Jacobs emphasized.
Everyone can contribute to creating a more inclusive work environment for individuals with speech fluency challenges, according to her.
“Most of us have interacted with someone experiencing fluency difficulties,” Jacobs pointed out. “It’s crucial to be patient. There is a common inclination to rush someone or to respond quickly, which can unintentionally lead to interrupting someone with a stutter. Instead of hurrying, we should patiently allow them the time they need. Time is a valuable yet inexpensive resource when considering the potential contributions of all workers in our workplace.”