What Our Clients Say Over 5,500 people have completed our therapy program. It is an illuminating experience to attend our annual reunions and meet people who have been fluent speakers for the last 20 to 30 years. The HCRI experience has had a profound effect on so many of those who have attended:

	I was valedictorian of my high school senior class. My father had to read my commencement speech. I am in college now and I speak for my self and I do it fluently!
	I didn’t understand the idea of fluency targets at first. LuAnn was patient in explaining each target to me and made sure that I was practicing the right way. Finally I got it and I am a fluent person.
	I can say my name any time I want to!
	I work in a customer service center and handle lots of telephone calls every day. Without Hollins I could never have done it.
	I’m a computer programmer. The people at Hollins have done a terrific job of making computers work effectively to improve the quality of therapy. Their work with electronics in therapy is outstanding!! I love what they do!!
	My stuttering pattern was unusual, according to my old therapists who didn’t help me. At Hollins, they knew what to do about it and I speak fluently.
	Now I have real freedom of speech!
	When I first called HCRI, I stuttered badly during the call. After treatment, I called to thank them and spoke fluently.
	I wish I had done this years ago. The clinicians were outstanding!!!
	Ain’t nothin better–you can take it to the bank!!
	I’m eleven years old. When I was a small child I hated to go to school. I cried almost everyday before I went. The other kids teased me a lot because I stuttered. I went to Hollins and learned how to speak really well. Today I am going to school and I am going to read a story to my class.
	I got the job I wanted, now that I can talk and express my self easily.
	I joined Toastmasters and won a regional speaking event.
	After Hollins, I became involved in politics and successfully ran for office as a state legislator. Of course, my fluent speech made it all possible. Thanks HCRI.
	I was good at learning languages. However, I stuttered badly, so badly in fact, that I actually broke my teeth during several different bouts of stuttering. I became a corporate trouble shooter after learning how to speak fluently at HCRI.
	I tried other therapies. I thought HCRI probably did the same thing as other therapies. I finally woke up and decided to call Hollins. Now, after attending HCRI, I have the daily blessing of speech!

• Ground-Breaking Research to Find the Cause of Stuttering… that Could Lead to the Cure
• Innovations to Enhance Therapy Outcomes
• Increased Therapy Access to Serve More People and Transform Their Lives
• Give the Gift of Fluency

We cannot depend on government or foundation funds to advance our cause. It is going to take the enthusiasm and gifts of those who deeply care about stuttering to reach our goal. We are asking for individuals to support our Inventing the Future Campaign with a pledge for each of the next five years to the Annual Fund.

We will recognize donors who pledge $1,000+ annually for the next five years through membership in the Hollins Society. Contribution categories include:

• Founder: $10,000+
• Visionary: $5,000 to $9,999
• Champion: $2,500 to $4,999
• Partner: $1,000 to $2,499

• Leader: $500 to $999
• Patron: $250 to $499
• Benefactor: $100 to $249
• Donor: $1 to $99

Through generous, tax deductible gifts, HCRI will be able to launch into a new arena of discovery and capability – and help more people in more places than ever before possible. Please complete and submit the gift form on this page. Or, print out a copy of the pledge form by clicking here, and mail the completed form with your donation to:

Hollins Communications Research Institute
Inventing the Future Campaign
7851 Enon Drive
Roanoke, VA 24019

We will return a receipt to you for tax deduction purposes. Please call (540) 265-5650 if you have questions or need additional information.

Thank you for your support!

3.3 MILLION!

That’s the estimated number of stutterers in the United States alone. This means that people have been denied countless opportunities because of stuttering. HCRI has treated all levels of stuttering severity – from very mild to extremely severe. Our clients benefit from our substantial experience in working with many different manifestations of stuttering. We, most likely, have worked with stuttering that is similar to yours.

Among those who have sought help at HCRI are Annie Glenn, wife of U.S. Senator John Glenn, who was uncomfortable in public speaking situations; Lester Hayes of the Los Angeles Raiders, for whom postgame interviews were torture; and 20/20 Co-Anchor John Stossel, whose speech problem interfered with his career. Take a look at some alumni video footage:

Forging new ground in the treatment of stuttering, HCRI scientists have introduced the Hollins Fluency Program: Advanced Speech Reconstruction for Stuttering™, a powerful new 12-day stuttering therapy with advanced behavioral, electronic and computer technologies that significantly improve the learning and retention of fluent speech.

The Hollins Fluency Program helps people who stutter learn how to replace faulty muscle contractions that cause stuttering with new muscle behaviors that generate fluent speech.  By literally “reconstructing” muscle actions that drive movements of the tongue, lip, jaw, soft palette, and vocal folds, individuals who stutter can acquire and sustain the ability to speak fluently.

The entire process can be completed within 12 days of intensive therapy and fluency results are among the highest of any stuttering therapy available.

Researchers developed the Hollins Fluency Program after studying and treating more than 5,500 people who stutter, ranging in age from 10 to 73.

First, they incorporated new knowledge of muscle movement targets that actively generate fluent speech for each sound class in our language. These changes have strengthened the core of the therapy system. 

HCRI engineers also improved computer based training techniques through which fluency skills are learned.

These developments have made it easier for clients to understand, learn and maintain the details of muscle movements that produce fluent speech.  The new Hollins Fluency Program incorporates sophisticated performance tracking tools that evaluate stuttering therapy progress and individualized treatment needs.

Second, HCRI scientists invented new electronics for measuring speech muscle use in real time and for signaling to clients whether or not they are using their muscles correctly as they practice new fluency generating skills.

This new, acoustically based biofeedback system allows fluency skill production to be measured and proper guidance provided, even at normal speaking rates. This component of the therapy system prepares clients for transfer of their fluency skills to everyday speaking situations. A virtual transfer practice module facilitates the transition from fluency skill use in the clinic to fluency skill use in daily life.

Third, HCRI created the new Hollins Fluency Program using a web-based format. This means that the Institute now has the power to explore remote access, quality controlled treatment for stuttering anywhere there is an internet connection.

Click Here to view videos about the Hollins Fluency Program >>

The chart below illustrates the Hollins Fluency Program components and how they work together to help HCRI clients successfully acquire the ability to generate robust, fluent speech. To learn more, place your mouse over each therapy program element for additional information.

The HCRI scholarship program is designed to make effective stuttering therapy available to more people who suffer from the debilitating effects of stuttering.  Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need and designated to offset the cost of tuition to attend the Institute’s 12-day therapy program.

 

Funding for scholarships is made possible through the generosity of past clients who want to give the gift of fluency to others because HCRI’s therapy has made such a remarkable difference in their lives.

Scholarship awards will be selective and range from $500 to full tuition.  Recipients will be determined based on household income, number of dependents, and other financial circumstances.

How to Request a Scholarship

1) To apply for a scholarship, you must first complete a program application (below) to attend one of HCRI’s 17 annual stuttering therapy sessions.
 
2) Once you submit your program application, we will contact you about your participation and forward a scholarship application for you to complete.

3) Complete and return the scholarship application to HCRI.  We will review your information and advise you of your qualification for an award. 

If you have questions about HCRI’s scholarship program, or for information on available session dates, therapy fees and insurance requirements, call Linda Booth at 540-265-5650 any time Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST). or fill out our contact form.

A stuttering device requires a direct test with each individual. If the device shows promise in helping a given person during an initial test session, then a trial use period is appropriate that should extend over three to four weeks. At the end of the period, a rational decision can be made regarding whether the device should be retained or not. There should be no charge, or perhaps a small charge for making an ear mold or shell, for the trial period. Additional charges may be imposed for clinical time. It is up to the purchaser to decide whether or not such charges are justified. Since it is likely that the seller is remunerated for the sale of the device, additional charges should be examined carefully.

Be careful of the device seller who attempts also to teach speech skills in order to make the device more effective. Some device sellers may use a slighter slower form of speech when they are talking to you in hopes that you will unconsciously model their speech style. Slowed speech can sometimes make it seem as if the device is producing fluency. However, your slowed speech is actually allowing the device to be of assistance to you.

You should be clear in your purposes. Do you want device created fluency or do you want help with the device in your controlled production of the behaviors that generate fluent speech? The latter outcome is more demanding of user efforts and it is possible that the effects of the device will diminish with time if the user is less than diligent in using the appropriate skills. You might also ask your self why you might be willing to use fluency skills with a device, when with a little more effort you could learn to use them and not require a device.

There are additional issues to evaluate before purchasing a device-even if it is helpful to you. A device is typically expensive, from $2000-$4000. In-the-ear devices dwell in the warm, humid environment of the ear and may last for 3 to 5 years. A behind-the-ear device is likely to last about 10 years. These projections are based on data from the hearing aid industry. There are insufficient data available to indicate how long fluency devices will actually last. It is clear that potential purchasers should factor in future replacement costs when considering devices. The actual direct costs of wearing a device may approximate $1000 to $1500 a year.

A device can be damaged when a wearer becomes habituated to its presence and forgets to remove it before taking a shower or going swimming. If a device is left out in the open, pets may lick or chew the device because of salt deposits on the case. Devices can be lost if they fall out of the ear or from behind the ear. Devices always carry additional costs with them-batteries and maintenance are the most common. For example, some devices are prone to having battery doors break or fall off. Devices with volume controls may also experience failure of the variable resistor due to its frequent manipulation by the user.

Devices can represent a bother in day-to-day living. Some DAF based devices send all sounds received at the unit to the ear with a delay. Thus, when you are talking to someone, your speech is delayed by the device when you talk; however, when they speak to you their speech is received in one ear in real-time while it is delayed when it arrives via the device-based ear. This disruption in the normal hearing of sound can become quite bothersome to some people.

Devices also create user dependence. A person who is capable of learning how to speak fluently is likely to forego that option and depend on the device. Device failure can lead to a panic situation, especially if an important speaking event is to be faced.

If you are thinking about acquiring a device, it is important to be familiar with the history of devices in stuttering. Typically, the device gets substantial public attention, there is sudden demand for the device, and gradually, demand is reduced as the realities of the device become apparent. The usual result is that the small companies that have produced the devices cannot stay in business and close their doors within a few years after the device is announced. This can mean that those who depend on the device are cut off and must fend for themselves.

In the opinion of the HCRI clinical staff, it is substantially more desirable to learn a strong set of fluency skills that will last for a lifetime than it is to depend on devices. The therapy specifically referred to here is the Hollins Fluency System™, our proprietary stuttering therapy developed and offered at HCRI. Our experience shows that most people who stutter can acquire lasting fluent speech through careful, motivated participation in our therapy. Certainly, more effort is required initially. However, the effort level diminishes with the use of fluency skills and the satisfaction level increases. There is substantial self-esteem and satisfaction that can result from the mastery of fluency skills. When therapy is a well developed, objectively based technology administered by highly skilled professionals, a single participation can establish fluency skills that last a lifetime.

Clearly, the choice is yours. Good luck with your decision.

If you would like more information about attending HCRI, please fill out the online application form. You can also call us at (540) 265-5650 or write to us at 7851 Enon Drive, Roanoke, Virginia 24019 if you would like to request an information packet and application.

Estimated Number of those who stutter: 66 Million World Wide, 3.3 Million in the United States.

Stuttering consists of repetitions or prolongations of sounds, syllables, or words, or frequent, unusual hesitations and pauses that disrupt the flow of speech. The severity of the problem varies from situation to situation and is most severe when there is special pressure to communicate, as during a job interview. Moderate to severe cases often include fearful anticipation of stuttering with avoidance of particular sounds, words or situations in which stuttering is anticipated. In addition, there may be eye blinks, tics, tremors of the lip or jaw, or jerking of the head. Often stuttering limits occupational choice and job advancement, and can severely restrict one’s social life.

Data show the following about stuttering: The age of onset of stuttering is normally between the ages of two and four Stuttering occurs four times more often in males than females. Recent research indicates a high probability of a genetic factor involved with stuttering. (Often stutterers have relatives who also stutter.)

Stuttering has been with us since people first began to talk. The problem is world wide, and occurs in all language groups. It has generated its own myths and superstitions, yet its cause remains a mystery. For most of this century, experts believed that stuttering. had psychological roots. The physical act of stuttering, they said, was just the tip of the iceberg, and the stutterer had to deal with the shame and guilt beneath the surface before the problem could be resolved. Counseling, acceptance of the problem, and traditional speech therapies were common treatments. Famous Stutterers include: Aristotle, Charles Darwin, Moses, Marylin Monroe & Isaac Newton. Since the early 1970’s research at HCRI has revealed that most people could be “retaught” to speak fluently and that stuttering happens in your muscles, not your mind. It is this continuing research that has been refined into the world’s leading treatment, The Hollins Fluency System™, with patented software specifically designed to help produce the 90% success rate of the participants who complete the HCRI program.

Along with psychologists, speech pathologists and professional support personnel that staff the Institute, effective research is made better with today’s computers. Computers that listen and provide immediate and accurate feedback while collecting important scientific data that can truly be measured and documented. Consistent long term follow ups with our clients continue to define the development and direction of our research and treatment system.

At HCRI, thousands upon thousands have completed our therapy program, and we remain committed to developing and to providing the most efficient and effective therapy program available anywhere for individuals who stutter. Click here for the answers to some frequently asked questions about attending our therapy program.Click here to apply to HCRI. Click here to ask a question.

Donating To Hollins Communications Research Institute

HCRI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation.

There are 2 ways to donate to HCRI:

Inventing the Future Campaign DONATE NOW >>> HCRI’s Inventing the Future Campaign is designed to advance the cause of stuttering to benefit the 66 million people worldwide who suffer each day from the debilitating effects of stuttering. Key initiatives include: Vital research to find the cause of stuttering… that could lead to a cure. Developing web-based technology that will enable HCRI to provide stuttering therapy to anyone in the world with internet access. Developing treatment innovations that improve the learning and retention of fluent speech. Hiring and training additional clinicians to administer HCRI’s scientifically based program to more people in more places.

Stuttering Therapy Scholarship Fund DONATE NOW >>> The HCRI Stuttering Therapy Scholarship Fund is designed to make stuttering treatment affordable to those in need… because people shouldn’t have to choose between paying their bills and getting help to speak fluently. The cost to participate in HCRI’s scientifically based therapy program is $4,500, which is priced to meet actual costs of research and therapy delivery. Scholarships range from $500 to full tuition, and are awarded according to each person’s individual circumstances. All scholarships are funded through gifts from donors who deeply care about helping people who stutter — and who know the transforming impact HCRI treatment can make on a person’s life.

HCRI Fact Sheet Download >>

Recent Press Releases:

Apple’s iPod Touch Joins the iPhone as a Stuttering Therapy Tool At HCRI

Apple’s iPhone Used in Treating Stuttering at HCRI

HCRI Introduces Scholarship Program for Stuttering Treatment

HCRI Honored by Virginia General Assembly

New Stuttering Treatment Innovation

Recent Interviews:

StutterTalk.com HCRI Interview 1

StutterTalk.com HCRI Interview 2

StutterTalk.com John Stossel Interview

Scientific American interview about the HCRI Iphone Application

HCRI Newsletters:

Spring 2009 Issue

Articles About Stuttering By HCRI

Facts About Stuttering

Research Archives

Free Tools For Those Who Stutter

StutteringEvaluator.org

Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory

Community Interaction:

Visit HCRI’s Forum

HCRI’s Facebook Page

Q.How many stutterers do you treat on an annual basis?

A.At HCRI, we treat 180-200 stutterers annually. We offer 17 sessions per year. Our clinical staff members are among the most highly experienced professionals in the treatment of stuttering.

Q.How long will I be in therapy?

A.At HCRI, we provide 100+ hours of concentrated treatment over a 12-day period. Clients participate in morning, afternoon and evening sessions.

Q. I thought that the therapy program was 19 days long… how was it reduced to only 12 days?

A.The new 12-day therapy schedule is based on an extensive, hour-by-hour analysis of our previous 19-day schedule. A number of revisions have been made that improve the utility of our stuttering therapy program. They include: 1) A more efficient therapy work schedule. 2) An increase in clinician-client contact hours. 3) Improved use of the computer to facilitate learning of fluency skills within therapy. 4) Each therapy participant receives free access for three months to FluencyNet™, HCRI’s proprietary internet based home/office practice system. The new 12-day schedule involves slightly more than 100 hours of work, compared with approximately 110 hours in the old schedule. We did not make the transition to the new schedule until we were sure that no compromises would be made in the quality of our therapy program. Other important benefits include the fact that the therapy fee has been reduced by one-third, and that clients will experience similar decreases in costs of lodging, meals and other living expenses. Finally, the 12-day program means that most people will find it easier to fit therapy into their busy personal schedules. We also offer more sessions per year (17) for scheduling convenience.

Q.Why do I need such an intensive program?

A.Programs should be of a known duration and intensive enough so that each therapy session is spent making progress on the problem not spent re-learning what has been forgotten from the last therapy session. Open ended programs or programs requiring less than 10 hours of attendance per week are generally ineffective.

Q.How will I sound after therapy?

A.Our goal is normal-sounding fluent speech not “improved” fluency or “feeling better” about stuttering. At HCRI, 90% of our program participants acquire normal levels of fluency (3% or less disfluencies) in both reading and conversation. In addition, those clients show normal reactions to speaking situations as measured by the Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory. (See video samples from program graduates before and after therapy).

Q.How long can I expect to continue to speak fluently after therapy?

A.At HCRI, follow-up studies verified by outside sources show that 75% of our program graduates retain normal levels of speech fluency 2+ years after completing the program. An additional 15% retain improved fluency although outside of the normal range of 3% or less disfluencies. Some treatment methods, if they are intensive enough, may yield short-term benefits such as improved fluency, reduced secondary behaviors and improved self image. However, long term results or follow-up studies are not available for most treatment programs.

Q. What is the drop out rate prior to completion of therapy?

A.At HCRI, the drop out rate is less than 1%. In many other treatment programs a high number of people become frustrated with their lack of progress and drop out of therapy.

Q. What is the cost for attending HCRI and what if I can’t afford to pay the total cost of treatment?

A. The cost of participating in the Hollins Fluency System is roughly one-third that of traditional treatment programs. Participants in the program are responsible for their own maintenance during the course of the program. Area hotels work with HCRI clients to provide them with very affordable housing rates for the 12-day period of attendance. Assistance in meeting the costs of attending the Hollins Fluency System may be available through a variety of sources including State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies and/or personal or group health insurance plans. We also offer payment plans and accept Visa and Mastercard. Additionally, HCRI provides limited scholarship assistance for those who truly cannot afford the cost of attending our program. Previous program graduates usually donate the available scholarships. Find out session availability and the current therapy fee by calling our business office at: 540-265-5650 or by sending an email.