The Oscar-winning movie, “The King’s Speech,” has given a voice to the more than 68 million people worldwide that stutter, while generating awareness of the therapy field of speech-language pathology.
In celebration of Better Hearing and Speech Month, Evergreen Speech & Hearing Clinic in collaboration with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) will host “An Evening with the King” from 6:30-9:30 p.m. May 18 at the Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland. The evening consists of a free screening of “The King’s Speech,” followed by a question-and-answer session with expert panelists Maryam Sadrzadeh, M.S. (program director of Evergreen Speech & Hearing Clinic), Ludo Max, Ph.D. (stuttering researcher at the University of Washington) and Joe Mirly (coordinator of the Northwest Chapter of the National Stuttering Association).
Stuttering is a communication disorder that is heard as disruptions or blockage in speech and currently has no known cause or cure. “It’s our hope to break down the social stigma and misunderstanding that surround stuttering and help further give a voice to those who stutter,” said speech-language pathologist Maryam Sadrzadeh. “We look forward to sharing this free movie screening with the Eastside community and encourage stutterers and non-stutterers alike to join in on this evening of entertainment and education.”
Sadrzadeh is one of the leaders of the NSA Eastside Stuttering Support Group, which aims at creating awareness, openness and support within the stuttering community through monthly meetings. “‘The King’s Speech’ has generated renewed discussions among those who stutter, along with their friends and family members, educators and clinicians,” says Sadrzadeh. “The film also allowed those who aren’t directly affected by stuttering to see the deeper reality of a day in the life of a person who stutters.”
To reserve a free seat at “An Evening with the King,” register from 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday-Friday at 425-899-3000 or 24/7 online at www.evergreenhealthcare.org/classes (healthy living section).
Regular Stuttering Support Group meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month in the Evergreen Surgery and Physicians Center, Room TAN 134 from 7-9 p.m.
