Stuttering, a speech disorder affecting millions worldwide, has drawn renewed attention following the 2026 NFL Combine. Wide receiver prospect KC Concepcion addressed his own stutter during media interviews at the event. While some social media users criticized him, many others offered praise and support. Concepcion used his platform to advocate for greater awareness of stuttering.
Christopher Constantino, an associate professor at Florida State University’s School of Communication Science and Disorders, studies how stuttering interacts with culture and society. He also researches ways to improve the social experiences of those who stutter. Constantino has participated in several interviews and podcasts on this topic.
He explains that people who stutter often face judgment from others in addition to their physical symptoms. “There is a great deal of stigma around stuttering,” Constantino said. “In addition to the physical experience of getting stuck, people who stutter are contending with the judgement of others. Discrimination is very common. It is no wonder people who stutter try to avoid stuttering. To stutter openly and easily, speakers must learn to manage this societal prejudice. Advocacy is, therefore, just as important to the therapy process as learning how to speak differently.”
According to the Stuttering Foundation, about 3 million Americans are affected by this neurological condition that disrupts speech fluency—the ability to move smoothly from one sound or word to another.
Constantino notes that individuals who stutter may experience a sense of being “stuck” while speaking, which can lead them either to struggle against it or attempt avoidance by restricting what they say or self-censoring. Both approaches can make speaking more difficult and require greater concentration.
When asked for advice for those who fear public speaking because of their stutter, Constantino recommends acceptance rather than avoidance: “Counterintuitively, the path out of struggle and avoidance is acceptance. The more a speaker lets their stutters happen, the easier they will be. This is, of course, much easier said than done and is why the guidance of a good speech-language therapist can be so helpful. Generally, the more your audience expects you to stutter, the easier it is to let yourself stutter. Therefore, I always recommend disclosing your stutter in high pressure situations. Something like, ‘I am a person who stutters, you might hear me repeat or stretch some sounds while I speak.’”
Members of the media interested in discussing these issues further can contact Christopher Constantino via email.
