Small grants towards treatment or research The Stammer Trust invites applications for grants up to £250 towards treatment and research in stammering anywhere in the UK. More...

BSA Services

See our Research Links page for more articles and wider internet links.

BSA research

Summary Report of the BSA's Primary Healthcare Workers Project The result of this BSA project has been one of the largest epidemiological studies of dysfluency in pre-school children in recent years, producing some extremely interesting findings.

Recent articles

Therapy leads in treatment of stammering David Vitler gives an overview of some highlights from the 5th World Congress on Fluency Disorders, 2006 which would be most useful from the point of view of answering calls on the BSA helpline, particularly from parents of small children.

Physiological indices of speech and language processes: new windows on the onset of stuttering in young children Anne Smith talks about work which may help understand the factors that contribute to the onset of stuttering, and aid in predicting which children who are stuttering are likely to develop a chronic problem.

Are children who stammer more sensitive by nature? A new study has shown that young children who stammer may be more emotionally sensitive, and have greater difficulty regulating their feelings, than children who don't stammer.

Is this why we don't stammer when we sing? Could stammering be explained by a malfunction in the basal ganglia? Per Alm explores this area. His doctoral thesis On the causal mechanisms of stuttering (2005) is also available on the internet.

Genetics - how stammering can run in families Short article on Dennis Drayna and genetic aspects of stammering.

One step closer to drug treatment of stammering In June 2006 tests of a new drug showed positive results, but how close is it to being available? Martin Sommer reports on the study led by professor Gerald Maguire, and on the background to drug research.

Altered auditory feedback devices: two articles on research (2006) 'More research needed on using devices in real life' and 'SpeechEasy research shows the effect differs for each person'.

Theory in treatment of early stuttering: a debate How can stammering in young children be treated effectively if the causes are not known? This is the edited version of an email debate between professors Mark Onslow and Scott Yaruss.

Research highlights The first in an occasional series of updates on the latest research into stammering, presented by members of the BSA research subcommittee who describe some highlights of recent research.

7th Oxford Dysfluency Conference, 2005 Ten articles on some of the presentations and workshops at this international conference.

New evidence for treating young children with the Lidcombe Program Major study published in the British Medical Journal - August 2005.

Events

Eighth Oxford Dysfluency Conference International conference on dysfluency. 'Integrating the Evidence: Scientist, Clinician and Client'. St. Catherine?s College, Oxford. July 2008.

Volunteers wanted

Mothers who stammer wanted! Are you a mother living with a stammer? Interested in telling your story?

Research in West Midlands The University of Birmingham, School of Psychology, is urgently looking for people who stammer from the West Midlands area to participate in an experiment investigating possible sources of stammering.

Volunteers wanted in London or Cambridgeshire area to help with a study of singing and stammering Alex Boyd, a final year pre-clinical medic at Jesus College, Cambridge, is looking for volunteers to take part in a study into the fluency-enhancing effect of singing on stammering.

Volunteers wanted in Newcastle Upon Tyne/North Tyneside area Anna Shepherd is looking at the referral process that adults who stammer go through to receive therapy, and their views on it.

Parents who stammer needed to help with UCL research UCL are looking for families with young children where one or both parents stammer (or used to stammer) to help with their research.

Questionnaire on mobile phone usage Petra Söderling is researching use of mobile phones & services, and users' expectations and needs.

Counselling studies - research volunteers wanted David Woodall would like to interview adults who stammer (or recovered stammerers) for research as part of an MA in Counselling Studies.

New sibling or other event when your stammering started? Patricia Sims, an SLT, is asking people to complete a short web form to help test the hypothesis that those who stammer are likely to have had some change in the home at the time of onset of stammering (the early repetitions).

Volunteers for brain imaging study of speech Researchers at the FMRIB Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, are seeking volunteers aged 7 - 40 years for a brain imaging study, examining the brain areas involved in speech in people who speak fluently and in people who stutter.

How do you view your stuttering? Michael Hylton, who stammers, at the University of Birmingham is writing his final year dissertation on stammering and needs people who stammer to complete a simple, anonymous questionnaire.

Effects of exercise on stammering Would you be willing to fill in an online survey about this?

Would you like to help UCL on research projects into stammering? University College London would like to establish a database of people who stammer in London and the Home Counties who would be willing to assist with their research, and families of children who stutter (aged 3 - 16).

Research on workplace experiences of PWS Professor Marshall Rice at York University in Toronto, Canada is asking people who stammer to complete an online survey form.