International Stuttering Awareness Day 2024: Date, Significance, History and Facts

International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD) is an annual event celebrated all across the world on October 22. Also known as International Stammering Awareness Day, it was first observed in the UK and Ireland in 1998 to raise public awareness of the issues faced by millions of people who stutter, or stammer.

Stuttering is a very common condition that produces disruption in speech with more than 70 million cases worldwide.

International Stuttering Awareness Day Date

International Stuttering Awareness Day Overview

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Significance of International Stuttering Awareness Day

Stuttering is a disruption in speech pattern involving disruptions while talking. There are lots of myths about this condition and there are many who believe it can be cured. First of all people need to understand that stuttering is not a disease but simply a condition that does not have to do anything with persons’ abilities and capabilities.

The day is a special worldwide commitment to educate people about this complex disorder and work toward the prevention of stuttering in children. To let people know that help is available and promote research to find the causes of stuttering, International Stammering Awareness Day is celebrated.

History of International Stuttering Awareness Day Observation

The first step towards observation of International Stuttering Awareness Day was taken during an International Stuttering Association (ISA) conference in Sweden in 1995. In 1997, during an International Fluency Conference in California, a day was selected for professionals to learn from those who stutter. During the closing ceremony, Michael Sugarman, co-founder of the National Stuttering Project, stated there should be an international day for stuttering awareness every year.

Finally inn 1998, the European League of Stuttering Associations, International Fluency Association, and International Stuttering Association launched October 22nd of every year as International Stuttering Awareness Day. The first International Stuttering Awareness Day was celebrated on October 22, 1998.

How is International Stuttering Awareness Day celebrated?

International Stuttering Awareness Day will be observed on October 22 with great zeal and fervor. Stuttering communities and associations around the world will organize events and campaigns on this day. These campaigns highlight how certain aspects of society can be difficult for people who stammer including the negative attitudes and discrimination and myths that people who stammer are nervous or less intelligent.

The day also celebrates the many notable figures who stammer who have made a mark on the world in the fields of science, politics, philosophy, art, cinema and music.

Facts related to Stuttering

Here are some facts related to stuttering so that you can differentiate between the myths and reality:

• About 5% of children aged between 2 to 5 years stutters during their childhood which lasts for several weeks to several years.
• Normally children recover from stuttering by age 7 or 8. However, 1 out of every 100 child is left with long-term stuttering.
• Stuttering is more common in boys and it tends to persist into adulthood more in boys than in girls.
• More than 70 million people worldwide are stutterers (about 1 in every 100).
• Family dynamics like high expectations, fast-paced lifestyles, and emotional trauma having an impact can be reasons for stuttering.
• It is a myth that psychological problem caused by anxiety, stress, or nervousness causes stuttering.
• Many famous actors, athletes, and musicians like Marilyn Monroe, James Earl Jones, Emily Blunt and Shaquille O’Neal have dealt with stuttering.
• Queen Elizabeth II’s father King George VI also struggled with stuttering his whole life.

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