International Stuttering Awareness Day, also known as International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD), is annually observed across the globe on 22 October to raise awareness about Stuttering, a speech disorder that affects millions of people (about 1% of the population) across the globe.
Symbol:
Since 2009, the Sea-Green Ribbon has been used as a stuttering awareness ribbon for ISAD
- The color ‘blue’ is traditionally associated with “calm” and ‘green’ represents “liberty, freedom and justice”.
Note: The annual See-Green Ribbon campaign aims to spread awareness about all mental health difficulties to help end mental health stigma and discrimination.
Background:
i.In 1997, ISAD was first proposed by Michael Sugarman, the co-founder of the National Stuttering Project (NSP) during the closing ceremony of the International Fluency Association (IFA) in San Francisco, California, the United States of America (USA).
ii.In 1998, the European League of Stuttering Associations (ELSA), the International Fluency Association (IFA), and the International Stuttering Association (ISA) declared the 22nd October of every year as “International Stammering Awareness Day”
iii.The first ISAD was observed on 22 October 1998.
Note: The year 2004 was designated by the IFA, ISA, and ELSA as the International Year 2004 Children Who Stutter.
2023 ISAD Online Conference:
i.The ISAD Online Conference, in its 26th year, runs from October 1-31, 2023.
ii.The 2023 theme for ISAD Online Conference is, “One Size Does NOT Fit All”.
- This theme highlights the individual nature of needs and circumstances. When applied to stuttering, it emphasises the unique manifestations of this complex condition.
iii.The ISAD online conference operates as a private initiative by dedicated volunteers, separate from any specific organization.
iv.The mission of the ISAD Online Conference is to carry on a tradition of education through diverse mediums, fostering discussions, and sharing insights related to stuttering.
What is Stuttering?
i.Stuttering refers to a complex speech disorder characterized by disruptions in the normal flow of speech.
ii.It is a speech disorder characterized by repetition of sounds, syllables, or words; prolongation of sounds; and interruptions in speech known as blocks.
Types: The 3 types of stuttering are developmental stuttering, neurogenic stuttering, and psychogenic stuttering.
Key Facts:
According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD):
- Stuttering occurs most often in children between the ages of 2 and 6 as they are developing their language skills.
- Approximately 5 to 10% of all children will stutter for some period in their lives, lasting from a few weeks to several years.
- Approximately 75% of children recover from stuttering.
- For the remaining 25% who continue to stutter, stuttering can persist as a lifelong communication disorder.
About International Stuttering Association (ISA):
ISA is a not-for-profit, international umbrella association made up primarily of national self-help associations for people who stutter.
Chair– Douglas Scott (USA)
Headquarters– Minnesota, USA
Founded in– 1995
