International Stammering Awareness Day is observed annually on October 22nd to raise awareness of stammering. People who stammer face ridicule, social isolation, and low self-esteem due to struggles in speaking fluently. While stammering affects approximately 1% of the population, many experience it as children, though its causes are complex and involve biological, developmental, environmental, and psychological factors. Negative social reactions to stammering can reinforce anxiety and difficulty speaking through a vicious cycle. To support people who stammer, it is important to listen patiently and avoid teasing, instead acknowledging their efforts and qualities beyond their speech.

1. International Stammering Awareness Day: 22nd
October
International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD) happens on 22nd October every year.
Stammering associations, individuals and groups around the world organise events to
mark the day and to raise awareness of stammering.
Stammering: No laughing Matter!
I have often wondered why anyone would find funny someone struggling to talk in an attempt to share
their views and ideas with others. What is so hilarious about finding it hard to get your words out?
Really, what’s funny about that? How come we fail to see the struggle behaviour and distress the
speaker is going through? How did we miss the anguish, fear and finally courage gathered before
those few words that generated much laughter could be articulated? How come we fail to notice what
people who stammer go through each time they open their mouths and thus force many into a life of
quiet, loneliness, bitterness and gnawing anger because they dare not open their mouths to express
their often intelligent, witty and great sense of humour for fear of being ridiculed, dismissed or
ignored.
The story of Jemima, a young pretty woman who stammers,is not a funny one. She married her
present husband because he was the only one who proposed to her and did not seem bothered by her
stammer. “He is a nice man and takes care of me, yes, but he was not my first choice”,she says. The
anger and bitterness of a young man can also be felt in the following comment “I amlying in wait for
my sister-in-law, my brother’s wife, who always findsit her duty to ridicule me and make me look
small because I stammer. I swear that I will hit her with something one day and kill her because of
how she makes me feel”. Yet another laments, “I ama journalist and alwayswanted to be a
presenteron TV or radio but cannot because of my stammer”. People who stammer have countless
stories of why they should be aggrieved and walk around with a chip on their shoulder. Any wonder,
there is this perception that they are quick to anger? Wouldn’t you be equally ready to demonstrate
anger if you had such pent up feelings stored inside for years with nowhere to offload them?
So, what is stammering?
Stammering is a very unusual problem and it is estimated that one person in every 100 stammers. It is
suggested that up to 5% may have experienced it at some stage in their lives, especially during
childhood. (Action for Stammering Children’s website: 16/10/2013)
Stammering is also unusual in that it can vary; sometimes it’s there,sometimes it isn’t. Apart from
the similarity in the lack of ability to speak fluently, no two people are the same in the way they
stammer and it can fluctuate or come and go, especially in childhood. For some, it may seem to have
gone completely until when it’s important to talk. That’s when some well-meaning adult might shout
at the child to talk properly like they always have.
What causes stammering?
Although the realcause of stammering is not known, it is believed to be the result of a number of
factors often working together but with the different “ingredients” of stammering combining
differently for each person who stammers: Physical/biological factors,subtle difficulties with the
development of speech and language, past and present environments and the individual’s personality
are all factors that work together in different ways to impact on fluency of speech. So, a blood family
history of stammering, co-ordination of speech mechanisms, minor speech difficulties in the early

2. years,family life, nature of speaking opportunities in the early years and the individual’s own
construct of him/herself in the world can all inter-relate and make an individual vulnerable to
stammering.
The vicious cycle of stammering
The vicious cycle, a process derived from Cognitive Therapy is a useful tool for understanding the
psychology of emotions which is what continues to impact the suggested causes,resulting in more
entrenched, sophisticated and challenging situations for the individual with a stammer.
An example of a cognitive cycle, showing how thoughts, emotions, physiological responses and behaviour can
be linked. (Taken from Action on Stammering Children’s website:16/10/13)
Many people who stammer,predict what might happen based on past experiences of difficulties and
any negative attachments to those talking situations. The ever-present threat of being teased,bullied
or not accepted pushes the individual to devise elaborate efforts to hide, avoid, or minimise the
stammering and become frustrated when that doesn't work. In due time, the idea of talking is taken
over by fear and anxiety resulting in tension which certainly does not help one’s ability to produce
relaxed and fluent speech.
Now, you see how you can make talking even more difficult for the person who stammers by poking
fun at them? People who stammer, like you and I, have plenty of other wonderful qualities. They
may be good singers, great mathematicians, athletes, scientists, lawyers, diplomats, teachers, etc.
Yet, we choose to define them only by their stammer. Why? If you came across a one eyed person
who is a good shot, would you suddenly burst out in laughter because they failed to hit an intended
target? Wouldn’t you praise them for skills achieved against the odds? Yes,that’s what we should
be doing, for many people who stammer. We should be praising and acknowledging them positively
for the great attempt at expressing their ideas in spite of the difficulties getting their words out. We
should simply learn to listen and be patient in their struggle. We could help ease their anxieties by
encouraging them to talk about what it’s like to have a stammer. We could find out by checking with
them how we can be of help rather than rushing in to complete their sentences or fill in with what we
believe to be the word that’s stuck. As one 7 year old boy with a stammer once remarked, “What I
have to say is usually more witty than what they say for me”.
What I think:
People might laugh. I
shouldn'thave said anything
anything
How I feel:
Nervous, anxious,
frustrated, angry
How my body feels:
Heavy
What I do:
Keep to
myself. Stop
talking

3. As for our script writers and drama producers, I wish they would help present people who stammer in
a more positive light to help others understand the stress they endure. So, before you snigger next
time, remember the struggles of people who stammer, that it is not a laughing matter and consider
how you would like to be treated if you had to trade places.
22 Octoberis declaredWorldStammeringDaybyWHO. Please celebrate the daybyresolvingto
change your attitude (if it’sanunhealthyone)topeople whostammer;have aconversationwith
someone whostammers. If youstammerandwouldlike tohelp organise eventsforpeople who
stammer,please contactEliason0246288770.
Nana Akua Victoria Owusu
Speech and LanguageTherapist
SeniorClinical Tutor
Schoolof Allied Health Sciences.