| I am some what angry as I write this article | | | | stammering courses or people who have |
| today. My father had recently heard about a | | | | managed to overcome their own stammer that |
| telephone helpline which is run by a stammering | | | | could possibly be of assistance? I am not looking |
| organisation here in the UK. He was interested to | | | | for any guarantees as I am aware that any type |
| see what advice they were giving to people who | | | | of therapy requires hard work and practice. |
| stammer and their families as I had had to endure | | | | Stammering helpline operator: So where does |
| life with a stammering problem for eighteen years. | | | | your son live? |
| During these eighteen years my dad became | | | | My dad: He lives in the West Midlands. |
| very annoyed at the lack of quality of help that | | | | Stammering helpline operator: Well in your region |
| was around. Speech therapy was basically | | | | there are three qualified speech therapists, the |
| pathetic and a waste of time for people who | | | | first is a lady... |
| stammer. The speech therapists themselves | | | | My dad: Excuse me, I am definitely not looking for |
| were less than confident. This is what one | | | | a speech therapist, I thought I had explained that. |
| therapist said to me: | | | | I am looking for somebody who can offer my |
| "There is not a known cure for stammering." | | | | son a more specialized service. Do you know of |
| "So I am going to have to accept that I will have | | | | any person who can possibly help? |
| the stammer for the rest of my life?" | | | | Stammering helpline operator: No I am sorry. |
| "Yes I am afraid so." | | | | My dad: Well I know of at least one person who |
| So how come then that I have now been fluent | | | | runs stammering speech courses which are on a |
| for the last thirteen years? Well it was no thanks | | | | one-to-one basis and are aimed at people like my |
| to him or his colleagues! | | | | son. Have you heard of these courses? |
| Anyway going back to the original theme of this | | | | Stammer helpline operator: Yes |
| article! | | | | My dad: So why did you not mention them when |
| My dad decided to ring this stammering helpline: | | | | I asked? |
| "Hi there I am phoning on behalf of my son, I | | | | Stammering helpline operator: Well they offer a |
| hope you can be of help to me. He has been | | | | cure and I am therefore not allowed by the |
| attending the more traditional forms of speech | | | | organization rules to give out their name. |
| therapy for a long time and it just isn't proving to | | | | My dad: I was not looking for any guarantees. I |
| be of benefit. He is now getting very frustrated | | | | can hear that you have a speech impediment; |
| and quite angry, I am actually worried that he | | | | you should be ashamed of yourself. I have stated |
| might try and self-harm himself in some way. I | | | | that I am scared that my son could harm himself |
| am more than keen to help him in any way that I | | | | but still you do not offer me any decent advice. |
| can and am now looking for a more specialist | | | | Stammering helpline - what a joke! |
| form of treatment. Do you know of any | | | | |