International Stuttering Awareness Day
Stuttering, also known as stammering, is a speech disorder most commonly associated with involuntary repetitions of sounds or syllables which disrupt the flow of speech. It also typically involves the prolongations of sounds and involuntary pausing or hesitation before speech.
Stuttering can have a severe impact on a person's emotional state and functioning. It frequently leads to stress, social anxiety, and self-imposed isolation. Children who stutter often become targets of bullying. According to statistics, about 1% of the world's population suffer from stuttering.
International Stuttering Awareness Day was created in 1998 to raise public awareness of stuttering and educate people about this common speech disorder, its consequences and methods of treatment. Numerous events are organized across the world by international and national stuttering associations. They include (but are not limited to) online conferences, public awareness campaigns, and educational activities.