Main text | Various quotes | Contact and interview information | Notes to editor

YOUNG CHILDREN who show early signs of stammering can avoid the pain of lifelong speech impairment if their difficulties are tackled early.

On International Stammering Awareness Day, on October 22, parents are being urged to act sooner rather than later if they feel their young children are showing signs of stammering - contrary to the received wisdom of many doctors and health visitors who recommend a "wait and see" approach.

An awareness campaign by the British Stammering Association argues that - despite what some people may think - children don't always "grow out of early stammering"; that an early consultation with a speech therapist is always the best policy.

The Association is saying to parents, doctors, health visitors, education and childcare workers in Scotland: "Spot it and act now, because speech therapy is more effective before the age of five." The Association operates a helpline: 0845 603 2001.

Jan Anderson, BSA campaign co-ordinator in Scotland said: "It is worrying that parents continue to be advised to wait and see when stammering in early childhood can be alleviated and referral* to speech and language therapy at the point of concern is recommended. There are no good grounds for avoiding early referral to speech therapy. Children will be sensitively screened and monitored and recommendations can be given regarding how best to support the child. This can ease parental anxiety and give the young child the best chance of developing natural fluency."

Ms. Anderson added: "Some speech therapists I have spoken to in Scotland have commented on the low number of referrals of children for dysfluency. The later a child is referred to a speech therapist, the longer and more difficult it usually becomes to achieve natural fluency - and this means more health service resources are taken up. It is time to speak up about stammering as this difficulty has been swept under the carpet for too long."

*Referrals may be made through a Health Visitor, GP or by direct contact with the local Speech & Language Therapy department.

Various quotes:

John McAllion, MSP for Dundee and patron of the British Stammering Association said: "Having stammered very badly from my earliest years until my 20s, I can well understand the frustration, embarrassment and pain caused to those afflicted. It was only in my mid 20s, when I was persuaded to seek help from a speech and language therapist, that I began to get my stammering under control and started to lead a normal life. I very much commend the work of the British Stammering Association and their campaign to provide proper facilities to allow all youngsters afflicted by this problem to receive early treatment and early intervention to help them overcome their stammer."

Ann-Marie Selby, mother of four-year old Jack, said: "Jack began repeating letters and as time went by it got worse. His eyes started to roll back and he cried when he couldn't get a word out. At his three-year check I said I thought he had a stammer but I was told: 'No, absolutely not - his mind is probably working quicker than his tongue'. I was told that if he still had problems at the age of four we could think about a referral to speech therapy. I'm a nurse and I was concerned. On the way out of the surgery I saw a leaflet from the British Stammering Association and found out I could self-refer. The doctor and health visitor were surprised when I did. Speech therapy was really great. Jack is like a different child. I took him for an assessment and they started a programme called Lidcombe. It needs a lot of input from the parent and you have to be 100 per cent committed to it. My husband and I took it in turns to play puzzles and word games each night - and the more Jack improved, the more delighted he became in himself. His confidence knows no bounds now. He is now on a maintenance programme but last time we visited the speech and language therapist Jack asked, 'Why am I here? I don't do bumps any more.' He is aware of his speech but in a positive way. I don't have the same fears about him going to school and being bullied for being different now. His speech is in line with his peers - with only occasional whole words repeated like other children of his age. I think parents should trust their instincts and not be sidelined by professionals. You are your child's best advocate.'

Michelle Johnstone, mother of three-year old Anthony said: "It started suddenly one day and I noticed it from then on and knew it wasn't right. Anthony found it hard to get started. Sometimes nothing came out. He got frustrated and angry because he knew he could talk but he just couldn't get his words out. I went to my health visitor and she said she would contact a speech therapist. I heard there was a three-month waiting list and I panicked because I knew he was getting worse. I chased it up myself and got an appointment in a week. I knew that the longer I left it, the worse it would get. It's about a year since we started seeing our speech therapist. It's been a long haul but it was worth it. Sometimes Anthony used to stammer on every sentence. At first we went for therapy every week and did sessions at home every day, twice a day on bad days. Sometimes Anthony got bored by it - but it was worth it. He's been fine for two months now and our next appointment is in four months."

Liz Hoey, team leader of the Yorkhill Dysfluency Team in Glasgow, said: "In my experience a lot of referrals are still coming through at school age and as a child gets older they may find it more of a struggle to speak. As a result, therapy time can be a lot longer at this stage. Treatment can be very effective in the early stages of stammering but often referrals are made well beyond the early stages. It seems to be quite a common reaction from parents and other professionals to 'wait and see' when actually it would be more beneficial to the parents and the child in the long-term to seek help and advice as early as possible. Not many parents know that if they are concerned about their child's speech they can contact their local speech and language therapy department and refer them. Hopefully, this campaign will raise people's awareness about the importance of early referral."

Norbert Lieckfeldt, Director of the British Stammering Association, said: "This campaign is the second stage of our Association's drive to give every dysfluent child the best possible start in life. Previous experience has shown that targeted information will result in many more children being referred to speech and language therapists at the optimum time for treatment - children whose stammer would not have been spotted otherwise. This campaign has received the backing of Scottish funders, including the department responsible for health in Scotland. Scottish speech and language therapists have also been very supportive. The BSA is most grateful for the reception this campaign has received north of the border."

Roberta Lees, University of Strathclyde, expert in the field of childhood dysfluency, said: "There is no doubt that early referral to a speech and language therapist will provide early intervention for a child with a dysfluency problem, when such intervention is necessary. All the research evidence has shown that the best results are obtained with children who have had treatment early, preferably within six months of the parent/carer noticing the problem."

Contact and interview information

Contact the British Stammering Association - see BSA media contacts..

Notes to editor

The British Stammering Association (BSA) is a charity which was established in 1978. It is the only national organisation for people who stammer of all ages. BSA offers a free information service and aims to encourage debate and research into the nature and treatment of stammering.

BSA offers a Helpline (0845 603 2001, local rate call) where parents can access support and information, including where to find speech and language therapy locally There is also a website www.stammering.org.

Earlier this year, the British Stammering Association appointed Jan Anderson as its first project co-ordinator in Scotland.

Facts about stammering:
Five per cent of children will experience dysfluent speech while learning to talk;
About a third of these children will not "grow out of it";
Stammering commonly begins between the ages of two and five (average onset: two years eight months);
Onset of stammering can be sudden or gradual;
No one cause of stammering has been identified;
A genetic predisposition is a likely contributing factor as stammering frequently appears to run in families;
One per cent of the adult population is affected by stammering.

Dated: October 22nd, 2001