The British Stammering Association supports Gareth in finding lasting speech success

Courageous Gareth
The British Stammering Association said today it supports Pop Idol finalist Gareth Gates in finding a long-term strategy to improve his speech. The speech technique Gareth has been learning has had good results with some people who stammer, but is just one of several approaches to deal with or reduce stammering.

"Gareth is a wonderful role model for all people who stammer" says BSA Director Norbert Lieckfeldt. "He has coped very well with the pressure and he deserves the chance to speak and be listened to, which does not necessarily mean speaking fluently".

"Gareth has shown a lot of courage," said Norbert. "There is no single approach that is guaranteed to 'cure' a stammer and each person must find what works best for them. It is easy to speak fluently after a short course but any lasting change needs a long-term process. Gareth deserves the chance to find what works best for him."

Turn the pressure down
The British Stammering Association believes it is important that Gareth, like other people who stammer, have the right to speak and be heard without having to prove he has 'overcome' his stammer.

"Some speech control techniques can create a lot of pressure as the person tries not to stammer. Taking some of this pressure off can be helpful and this might be the case with Gareth," said Carolyn Cheasman, specialist speech therapist at the City Lit in London.

Suggestions of hypnosis
There have been suggestions that hypnosis can cure stammering and may help Gareth. Judith Patel, a qualified hypnotherapist and specialist speech therapist in stammering advises caution about a recent suggestion of hypnosis for Gareth.

"Hypnosis is not a cure for stammering. While hypnotherapy can help with anxiety, it is one tool of many," she said. "Gareth would benefit from the chance to look at the different aspects of speech therapy and not feel pressured to stick to any one treatment."

"Hypnotherapy can help a person to cope better with their stammering but by itself it is not a treatment for stammering - it is an adjunct," said Roberta Lees of Strathclyde University.

Contact: the British Stammering Association - BSA media contacts.

For web-based information: www.stammering.org

Release ends

Media Centre