News Release
October 16, 2006.

NHS cuts therapy for children who stammer when they need it most, says the British Stammering Association.

Staff freezes and funding cuts in the NHS could deny young children specialist help for stammering when it will be most effective for them. The British Stammering Association is about to start a new project to help some Health Trusts offer therapy to all preschool children who stammer when they most need it. The timing would be doubly bad if it the success of this important project was undercut.

The Association is using International Stammering Awareness Day on October 22 to campaign on behalf of frustrated parents who can't get help for their child when they most need it - waiting for up to two years in places. Recent research shows that children who receive therapy before the age of five are much more likely to overcome their stammer, and thus be freed from a lifetime of stammering.

"No child should start school having missed out on therapy. Without early help, difficulty in speaking can seriously affect a child's life. We are not talking about much extra funding, just a change of attitude and procedure", said Margaret Evesham, BSA project leader. "If children are seen young, it should save the money spent on long term therapy for older children and adults," she said.

A recent national survey of speech and language therapy managers showed that:
More than three-quarters (78%) say their budget has been frozen or cut for the coming year,
Six out of 10 (62%) believe they will not be able to plan for and meet future patient needs
Half say the standard of care they now provide is significantly lower than it was 12 months ago, or even that their service is no longer viable.

"Speech and language therapy should not be seen as a soft target because your whole life is affected if you cannot communicate," said BSA chief executive Norbert Lieckfeldt. "We have the support of Health Trusts, we know how to provide therapy for more children who need it, and we know it costs very little. Why should young children miss out?"

For more information:
Norbert Lieckfeldt

Tel: 020 8983 1003
www.stammering.org
Helpline: 0845 603 2001

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