International Stuttering Awareness Day (ISAD), or International Stammering Awareness Day, is an annual celebration held on October 22. It was first held in the UK and Ireland, in 1998.The day is intended to raise public awareness of the issues faced by millions of people – one percent of the world’s population – who stutter, or stammer.
Research suggests that the overall prevalence of stuttering is approximately 1%19. Australia’s population is currently 23.3 million, which would suggest that there are approximately 233,000 people who stutter in Australia.
The 2024 theme is ‘The Power of Listening’.
Stuttering is when a person’s speech is interrupted by unplanned breaks, repetitions and stretches of sounds and words.
People who stutter may look and sound like they are having trouble speaking. They may make extra movements of their body and face.
Stuttering is relatively common. Around 1 in 100 people stutter. We don’t know what causes stuttering, but it is related to brain activity.
Stuttering is not caused by a specific event, tiredness, anxiety, parenting style, or any type of psychological problem.
It isn’t possible to catch stuttering from another person. Stuttering usually starts in children around 3 to 4 years of age.
It can start suddenly or gradually. It can be very mild through to very severe. Stuttering can be unpredictable. It can change how it sounds, and when and where it happens.
It may also disappear and then re-appear in young children. Many young children’s stuttering will disappear altogether. Unfortunately, it is impossible to know whose stuttering will fade away permanently, and when that might happen.
You can get help for stuttering.
It’s best to talk to a speech pathologist when you first notice it. Don’t wait to see if it gets better by itself.
Stuttering in young children responds well to early intervention. Stuttering can be successfully controlled in older children, adolescents and adults too. Interventions will vary depending on the person and how long they have been
stuttering.
In Australia, most interventions directly target the stuttering. You can get help in person, via telepractice, individually and in groups. You can also join a support group such as The Stuttering Association for the Young or The Australian Speak Easy Association.
Here’s a famous face you might know…
https://www.tiktok.com/@bbc/video/7021779694798392582
© First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN) 2024
