The Parental Awareness Campaign (PAC) was a three year project that concluded in late 2002. It aimed to encourage parents, early years workers and health professionals to refer children under five, showing signs of stammering, to speech and language therapy. The final reports are available below. 

PAC Final Report - England, Wales and Northern Ireland - pdf file, 151KB

PAC Final Report - Scotland - pdf file, 254KB

Our earlier Primary Healthcare Workers Project (PHWP, 1995-1999) sought to challenge a widely prevailing misconception - that it is best to 'wait and see' whether a child will grow out of early stammering. The PHWP proved successful in increasing the number of dysfluency referrals at a younger age, particularly amongst health visitors, in its target areas.

Based on recommendations in the PHWP, the PAC aimed to take the early referral message to a wider audience, including parents directly, and maintain its profile over time. The PAC did this principally through dissemination of campaign literature (namely a poster and two leaflets), media campaigns, and training for potential referrers. Some training sessions for speech and language therapists were also held.

The results of the campaign were monitored and showed an increase in referrals of young children to speech and language therapists across the areas targeted. The reports make various recommendations, including the need for ongoing raising of awareness. The Scottish report identifies the potential of telehealth as a novel means of delivering specialist services in rural areas.

BSA has now started a new project, the Pre-school Dysfluency Project.