Some of the presentations and workshops at this conference held in summer 2005:

Training project for therapists working with under-11s An innovative training module was piloted last year for 22 therapists who had limited experience or who wished to update and enhance existing skills. By Lucy Paterson, North-Tyneside Trust.

The Artist's Eye - therapy through the looking glass In an age where scientific approaches to stammering prevail and there can be a feeling that 'if it can't be measured then it's not worth doing', Dr Trudy Stewart addressed the topic of art and stammering.

Stepping from theory to therapy - mind the gap Theories can create problems for us if we hold on to them too tightly. Presentation by Sue Rant.

How effective is the Lidcombe Program with school-age children? A phase 1 trial Mark Onslow presented the phase one trial results on the effectiveness of the Lidcombe Program with eight school age children.

Shock! Horror! Excitement! A ten-year retrospective on stuttering research Mark Onslow identified some of the basic issues on how to develop therapies that have a good evidence base.

What is known and unknown about altered auditory feedback as a treatment for stuttering? Australian therapist Michelle Lincoln presented an overview of the usefulness of these devices, including some preliminary findings of her own research.

Anxiety and post-treatment stuttering severity Susan Block presented a study which found a significant correlation between 'state anxiety' and percentage syllables stuttered after but not before an intensive speech restructuring course using smooth speech for adults.

A cognitive model of social anxiety and its application to stammering Cognitive therapy acknowledges that social anxiety is not based on thoughts which are in any way irrational. Instead, it helps clients understand their fears and challenge them. Presenter: Jane Fry, The Michael Palin Centre.

The influence of the basal ganglia on stuttering Tom Weidig reports on a presentation by Dr Katrin Neuman and Prof. Henny-Annie Bijleveld, including research on modification of basal ganglia activity by fluency shaping therapy.

Chromosomal signals for genes underlying stuttering: a preliminary report A preliminary report Dr Yairi supported the notion that different genes were responsible for transmission of stammering in males and females, and that persistent and recovered stuttering are genetically different.

Awareness and Anxiety. What evidence is there of either in young adults with Down's syndrome who are dysfluent? Study by Monica Bray, who concluded that despite the appearance of 'struggle' behaviour both participants were able to deny awareness of difficulties with their speech.

See also: 6th Oxford Dysfluency Conference 2002

Internet link
Oxford Dysfluency Conference: www.odc.org.uk