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Adult therapy and courses

Beyond working with a qualified speech and language therapist, there is a wide range of alternative therapies, courses and electronic devices available for adults who stammer. Sometimes it takes determination to find something that is right for you - and it can be difficult to distinguish genuine from spurious help.

Some people advertise therapies or devices claiming to 'cure' stammering - and often these people sincerely believe they have something valuable to offer. However, we don't give information about approaches which claim to cure stammering because, while there are many techniques which can make a positive difference, there remains no evidence of a universal cure.

The approaches listed below clearly help some people, but because stammering is such an individual condition, they are not right for everyone. We suggest you read our article Is There A Cure for Stammering? especially before committing yourself to spending a large amount of money.

Costal breathing Costal, or diaphragmatic, breathing is a key feature of both the McGuire Programme and the Starfish Project, private organisations which offer intensive courses for adults who stammer. Among our members there is a mixed response to this approach. The two courses are very different in size, structure and cost.

Neuro-linguistic programming and Neuro-Semantics There are occasional workshops, a web-based discussion group, and a great deal of written material on applying this approach to stammering.

Hypnotherapy Some speech and language therapists may incorporate hypnotherapy alongside other treatments and this may be helpful to address some of the psychological issues and fears related to stammering.

Electronic fluency devices Various devices are available which use Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF), Altered Auditory Feedback (AAF) or both.

Software Software can be downloaded which enables you to use DAF or AAF on your own equipment (ie a laptop or a phone). There is also software that helps you to learn a specific speech technique.

Medications and drugs Research continues, but at present there is no medication available in the UK that can be prescribed specifically to help with stammering.

Counselling, psychotherapy and bodywork Some adults who stammer have been helped through various forms of these, such as life coaching, solution focussed brief therapy, gestalt therapy, body psychotherapy, process work, transactional analysis, and Alexander technique.

Meditation, yoga, relaxation Articles and resources for people who stammer on meditation, yoga, and relaxation.

Self-help groups etc The sharing and discussing of a problem with others who stammer can often prove helpful. There may be a self-help group in your area, or there are opportunities for support and discussion over the internet or by telephone. You can come to events such as BSA conferences and Open Days. There is also a lot of reading matter on stammering available.

There are separate pages on telephone calls and public speaking.

What sort of treatments do qualified speech and language therapists offer?

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