By Dr Suzanne C. Hopf (picture, inset), Head of Discipline (Speech Pathology) in the Charles Sturt School of Allied Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences.

No two people look, speak, or view the world exactly the same, not even identical twins.

So why has society historically always tried to define sameness, or normality, when there is so much natural variation in the world. History is full of examples of people who thought in unique ways that resulted in innovations and advancements that we benefit from daily.

Imagine a world without the ground-breaking discoveries in physics of Sir Isaac Newton ─ gravity, laws of motion, calculus, etc ─ which have shaped the way we see our world.

And yet, Newton was a stutterer who avoided communicating outside his immediate circle of confidants because of the communication discrimination he experienced in public.

International Stuttering Awareness Day on Sunday 22 October recognises globally those who stutter, including the approximately 1 in 100 Australians who stutter.

Stuttering, also known as stammering, is characterised by disruptions in the flow of speech. The person who stutters knows what they want to say, but they struggle to get the words out in the right way when they want to say them.

This can manifest as repeating sounds, syllables, words or phrases, stretching out the sounds in words, or making no sound at all. It can start as early as between the ages of two and four, and while most children who stutter recover naturally, it can be a lifelong reality for some.

Stuttering is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is increasingly being recognised as a form of neurodiversity.

Importantly, stuttering is not indicative of deficits in intelligence or emotional regulation. Instead, it reflects differences in the brain processes that control speech.

This shift in perspective is crucial in fostering acceptance and understanding of the unique experiences of those who stutter.

Neurodiversity, a concept that highlights the inherent differences in the human brain, embraces the idea that neurological variations like stuttering are not defects, but rather natural variations of the human experience.

This acceptance of neurodiversity as natural variation acknowledges that communication is a two-way process where speaker and listener must work equally to remove communication barriers and successfully transmit and receive information.

To learn how to be a better listener check out listening tips from SAY.org

While stuttering is not in and of itself a disability, disabling stigma and prejudice experienced when stuttering mean that some people may still choose treatment for stuttering.

A Speech Pathology Australia position statement advocates for early intervention for all children under six years of age who stutter.

Older children and adults who stutter also have speech pathology treatments available with a strong evidence base for success.

A combined approach that focuses on early intervention provides a range of treatment options tailored to individual needs.

Advocacy for acceptance of natural variation in communication not only helps improve the quality of life for those who stutter but also fosters a more inclusive society.

To find a speech pathologist in your local area search here.

Learn more about studying speech pathology at Charles Sturt University.