view the trailer here...

Speech Pathology Australia is excited about the  new film 'The King's Speech' as it highlights the daily challenges faced by people with a stutter and other communication difficulties.

The King’s Speech tells the story of King George VI’s work with unorthodox Australian speech pathologist Lionel Logue to overcome his debilitating stutter and lead Great Britain through the Second World War.

SPA National President, Chris Stone, welcomed the film’s release in Australian cinemas and said she is confident it will raise awareness of this communication disorder that affects at least 1 per cent of Australians.

“It’s wonderful to see stuttering portrayed in such a positive way and draw attention to the serious impact this type of disorder has on people’s lives,” Ms Stone said.

“The stereotype of people who stutter having psychological or mental deficiency is unfair and damaging, so The King’s Speech will help people understand the true distress and anxiety felt by people who stutter.”

Ms Stone also spoke about the long term effects stuttering can have, with recent studies investigating the social and emotional consequences of not receiving necessary treatment.

“’Speech twitches’ are often just the tip of the iceberg of stuttering, whose cause is often neurologically based – which can result in feelings of anger, frustration and embarrassment.  It is important that people who stutter know they can receive treatment from speech pathologists, who have the techniques and treatments they need to manage their stuttering.”

SPA member and stuttering expert from LaTrobe University, Dr Susan Block said the film highlights the indiscriminate nature of the disorder as well as the different aspects of stuttering.

“People don’t realise that stuttering has a physical aspect, affecting motor coordination, as well as a psychological aspect – the anxiety, avoidance and distress.  The great thing about The King’s Speech is that it demonstrates this and points out that stuttering can occur in people of any background – king or commoner!

“The film also demonstrates the importance of the relationship between an adult who stutters and their speech pathologist – even though treatment techniques have radically evolved since Lionel Logue’s time, one of the most important long-term and ongoing relationships an adult who stutters will maintain is that with their speech pathologist.”

Dr Block is also hopeful the film will encourage people who stutter and the people around them to be more open about the condition and inspire them to seek treatment.

“I really hope that the film will make people stop and think about stuttering and perhaps even encourage them to raise what can be an embarrassing subject.  If you know someone who stutters, ask them if they have seen the film or how they feel about stuttering.

“Speech pathologists have developed very effective treatment methods and if you have any concerns for yourself, a family member or friend, a speech pathologist can make an assessment and discuss the treatment options that are open to you.”

Whether a child, teenager or adult who stutters, it is never too late to seek assistance from a speech pathologist.  To find a speech pathologists in your local area, use the ‘Find a Speech Pathologist’ tool on this website.

The film tells the story of King George VI and his work with Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue.  It has generated a lot of 'Oscar buzz' with Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter tipped for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress awards.

"After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle. Based on the true story of King George VI, THE KING'S SPEECH follows the Royal Monarch's quest to find his voice." Rotten Tomatoes 

We are proud and honoured that three of our members, experts in stuttering and Lionel Logue respectively, have taken part in many media interviewsin the lead up to the Australian release of the film. Professor Mark Onslow from the Australian Stuttering Research Centre has discussed the various techniques used by Lionel Logue and how treatments have evolved, Dr Susan Block has appeared in many radio interviews ande Dr Caroline Bowen is internationally recognised as an expert on the enigmatic Lionel Logue, acting as consultant for the play “At The Dorchester” by J. B. Miller, “The King’s Speech” feature film, “The King’s Speech” by Lionel Logue's grandson Mark, as well as “Lionel Logue: the King’s Mentor” by Norman C. Hutchinson.

To hear and read some of their  interviews, click below...

Geraldine Bricker-Katz in the Courier Mail 10 February 2011

Dr Elisabeth Harrison on ABC Radio National 'Life Matters' 27 January 2011

Simone Lees in The Age/Sydney Morning Herald 24 January 2011

Prof Mark Onslow on ABC Capricornia (Queensland) 6 December 2010

Dr Caroline Bowen in the New York Times Magazine

Dr Caroline Bowen in the Visual Thesaurus

Dr Caroline Bowen in The Age/Sydney Morning Herald 9 November 2010

Dr Caroline Bowen in The Telegraph (UK) 

To see Speech Pathology Australia member and private practitioner Alison Board speaking about early childhood intervention on the Channel 9 Today program on Monday 10 January 2011, click here.

At Long Last, A Positive Portrayal of Stuttering. The ASHA Leader - Kuster, J. M.   

SLP as Action Hero? Film Review of The King’s Speech. The ASHA Leader - Payne, K. T.  & Pearlman, R..

On the Trail of Lionel Logue: One SLP's Excellent Adventure by Caroline Bowen.
The author aided in the surprise discovery by the film producers of the Logue Family Archive just weeks before film production began. She introduced the film's researcher to Mark Logue, Lionel's grandson and custodian of the archive. 

Lionel Logue: A Pioneer in Speech-Language Pathology by Caroline Bowen.
Lionel Logue, with his matinee-idol good looks, confidence-inspiring persona, and skills as a teacher, performer, and raconteur, was an artist at core with a passion for healing—a true pioneer in speech-language pathology. 

Peter Wehrwein, Editor, Harvard Health Letter
The King’s Speech has won almost universal praise for its portrayal of reluctant monarch George VI’s stuttering. Harvard Health Letter editor Peter Wehrwein takes you behind the scenes with Alex Johnson, an expert in speech and stuttering at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston; Caroline Bowen, an Australian speech-language therapist; and a few other scattered sources. 

Oscar or not, The King’s Speech teaches about stuttering