Author: hcri

HCRI Research Study Commentary – An Introduction

Stuttering: Generating Fluent Speech as a Tool for Discovering the Cause(s) of Stuttering

By Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., Founder and President
Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI)

There are a number of observations regarding stuttering and manipulations of physical conditions that reliably generate fluent speech. It would seem reasonable to state that, with these observations on conditions that generate fluent speech, nature is pointing clearly and strongly to a way to advance our understanding of stuttering as a physically based disorder.

This type of information also has special significance for understanding stuttering because it is based specifically upon the direct manipulation of physical variables and not upon studies that merely seek relationships between and among nonmanipulated variables.

Inferences drawn from experiments have the potential for being stronger and more useful than inferences drawn from simple associations. That is, they have to power to permit the correct inference of causal relationships.

We here at HCRI understand that physical facts and the patterns among them represent the foundation information upon which the eventually discovery of the cause or causes of stuttering will emerge. Identification of cause in stuttering will, in turn, generate work that will have potential for curing the disorder.

We note, for purposes of clarity, that we shall be focusing only on developmental stuttering. We will not be addressing stuttering associated with physical damage to the central nervous system induced by insult, disease or drugs.

On this site, we have provided and will continue to add representative studies, along with commentary, that have demonstrated reliable links between specific physically manipulated conditions and the propagation of fluent speech in persons who stutter.

After all, one of the major tasks of the scientific analysis of events in nature is to discover patterns of lawfulness among those events. Another major task is to develop a parsimonious network of constructs that organizes this information and suggests next steps in research. We shall indicate the properties of the patterns we see and will also discuss the scientific implications that can be drawn from this work. Click on the links below for specific studies and commentary by HCRI:

If you would like information about HCRI’s scientifically based stuttering treatment program, visit www.stuttering.org or call 540-265-5650.

Stuttering Research Commentary #3 by HCRI

As research scientists focus on determining the cause of stuttering, it is important to examine how the brain is involved in stuttering. Yet, it is premature to rush to the simple conclusion that the brain is “causing” stuttering.

The brain operates as a complex set of physiological systems that are, in turn, provided with an array of inputs and outputs. The research task is to develop an understanding of the complex context within which the brain functions.

The following research abstract is the third in a series es provided as a service by Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI).  HCRI is a nonprofit Institute based in Roanoke, Virginia that has been at the forefront of stuttering research and treatment innovation since 1972.

The commentary provided following the abstract is provided Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., HCRI’s Founder and Director.

ABSTRACT:

Structural and functional abnormalities of the motor system in developmental stuttering.

Brain. 2008 Jan;131(Pt 1):50-9. Epub 2007 Oct 10. Watkins KE, Smith SM, Davis S, Howell P. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. kate.watkins@psy.ox.ac.uk

Summary:

Though stuttering is manifest in its motor characteristics, the cause of stuttering may not relate purely to impairments in the motor system as stuttering frequency is increased by linguistic factors, such as syntactic complexity and length of utterance, and decreased by changes in perception, such as masking or altering auditory feedback.

Using functional and diffusion imaging, we examined brain structure and function in the motor and language areas in a group of young people who stutter. During speech production, irrespective of fluency or auditory feedback, the people who stuttered showed overactivity relative to controls in the anterior insula, cerebellum and midbrain bilaterally and underactivity in the ventral premotor, Rolandic opercular and sensorimotor cortex bilaterally and Heschl’s gyrus on the left.

These results are consistent with a recent meta-analysis of functional imaging studies in developmental stuttering. Two additional findings emerged from our study. First, we found overactivity in the midbrain, which was at the level of the substantia nigra and extended to the pedunculopontine nucleus, red nucleus and subthalamic nucleus.

This overactivity is consistent with suggestions in previous studies of abnormal function of the basal ganglia or excessive dopamine in people who stutter. Second, we found underactivity of the cortical motor and premotor areas associated with articulation and speech production. Analysis of the diffusion data revealed that the integrity of the white matter underlying the underactive areas in ventral premotor cortex was reduced in people who stutter.

The white matter tracts in this area via connections with posterior superior temporal and inferior parietal cortex provide a substrate for the integration of articulatory planning and sensory feedback, and via connections with primary motor cortex, a substrate for execution of articulatory movements.

Our data support the conclusion that stuttering is a disorder related primarily to disruption in the cortical and subcortical neural systems supporting the selection, initiation and execution of motor sequences necessary for fluent speech production.

HCRI Comment:

This study found evidence for anomalous cortical and subcortical activation in stutterers. While the authors  refer to these systems in terms of motor activation and control, the door remains open to the question of sensory involvement in motor execution. That is, a flaw in sensory return associated with speech initiation would have significant implications for motor functions.

For more information about HCRI’s work in the field of stuttering and treatment programs, visit www.stuttering.org .

Stuttering Research Commentary #2 by HCRI

All human behavior is associated with brain functioning of one type or another — including stuttering.

As research scientists focus on determining the cause of stuttering, it is important to examine how the brain is involved in stuttering. Yet, it is premature to rush to the simple conclusion that the brain is “causing” stuttering.

The brain operates as a complex set of physiological systems that are, in turn, provided with an array of inputs and outputs. The research task is to develop an understanding of the complex context within which the brain functions.

The following research abstract is the second in a series provided as a service by Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI).  HCRI is a nonprofit Institute based in Roanoke, Virginia that has been at the forefront of stuttering research and treatment innovation since 1972.

HCRI commentary follows the abstract and is provided Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., HCRI’s Founder and Director.

ABSTRACT

Common features of fluency-evoking conditions studied in stuttering subjects and controls: an H(2)15O PET study.

J Fluency Disord. 2003 Winter;28(4):319-35; quiz 336.  Stager SV, Jeffries KJ, Braun AR.  Language Section, Voice Speech and Language Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Educational Objectives:

1. Compare brain activation patterns under fluency- and dysfluency-evoking conditions in stuttering and control subjects;

2. Appraise the common features, both central and peripheral, of fluency-evoking conditions; and

3. Discuss ways in which neuroimaging methods can be used to understand the pathophysiology of stuttering.

Summary:

We used H(2)15O PET to characterize the common features of two successful but markedly different fluency-evoking conditions — paced speech and singing — in order to identify brain mechanisms that enable fluent speech in people who stutter. To do so, we compared responses under fluency-evoking conditions with responses elicited by tasks that typically elicit dysfluent speech (quantifying the degree of stuttering and using this measure as a confounding covariate in our analyses).

We evaluated task-related activations in both stuttering subjects and age- and gender-matched controls. Areas that were either uniquely activated during fluency-evoking conditions, or in which the magnitude of activation was significantly greater during fluency-evoking than dysfluency-evoking tasks included auditory association areas that process speech and voice and motor regions related to control of the larynx and oral articulators.

This suggests that a common fluency-evoking mechanism might relate to more effective coupling of auditory and motor systems — that is, more efficient self-monitoring, allowing motor areas to more effectively modify speech. These effects were seen in both PWS and controls, suggesting that they are due to the sensorimotor or cognitive demands of the fluency-evoking tasks themselves.

While responses seen in both groups were bilateral, however, the fluency-evoking tasks elicited more robust activation of auditory and motor regions within the left hemisphere of stuttering subjects, suggesting a role for the left hemisphere in compensatory processes that enable fluency.

HCRI Comment

This article hints at problems in auditory sensory and motor activation relationships. These results are consistent with the idea that there is a flaw in sensory/motor feedback relationships.

For more information about HCRI’s work in the field of stuttering and treatment programs, visit www.stuttering.org.

Stuttering Research Commentary #1 by HCRI

There is no doubt that stuttering is associated with specific forms of brain activity. In fact, all human behavior is mediated by brain functioning of one type or another. When we learn something new — a fact, a poem, a song or a motor skill — we do so because we have experienced reorganization of brain function.

As research scientists focus on determining the cause of stuttering, it is important to examine how the brain is involved in stuttering. Yet, it is premature to rush to the simple conclusion that the brain is “causing” stuttering.

The brain operates as a complex set of physiological systems that are, in turn, provided with an array of inputs and outputs. The research task is to develop an understanding of the complex context within which the brain functions.

The following research abstract is the first of a series provided as a service by Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI).  HCRI is a nonprofit Institute based in Roanoke, Virginia that has been at the forefront of stuttering research and treatment innovation since 1972.

HCRI commentary follows the abstract and is provided Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., HCRI’s Founder and Director.

ABSTRACT: A positron emission tomography study of short- and long-term treatment effects on functional brain activation in adults who stutter.

J Fluency Disord. 2003 Winter;28(4):357-79; quiz 379-80., e Nil LF, Kroll RM, Lafaille SJ, Houle S., Graduate Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Ont., Canada M5G 1V7. luc.denil@utoronto.ca

Educational Objectives:

1. Use of functional neuroimaging PET in the study of stuttering;
2. Differences in neural activation between stuttering and non-stuttering adults; and
3. Effects of behavioral fluency treatment on cortical and subcortical activations in stuttering speakers.

Summary:

Previous studies have shown that fluency-inducing techniques, such as choral speech, result in changes in neural activation as measured by functional neuroimaging.

In the present study, positron emission tomography was used to investigate the effects of intensive behavioral treatment, followed by a 1-year maintenance program, on the pattern of cortical and subcortical activation in stuttering adults during silent and oral reading of single words.

The results indicate changes in activation lateralisation, as well as a general reduction in over-activation, especially in the motor cortex, following treatment. The results are discussed in light of previous functional imaging studies with stuttering adults.

HCRI Comment:

This article illustrates clearly that differential brain function is seen in stutterers before and after participation in a therapy derived from one of our earlier therapy systems. The essential point is that post-treatment, brain activity in stutterers was closely similar to the brain activity of fluent speakers.

For more information about HCRI’s work in the field of stuttering and treatment programs, visit www.stuttering.org .

How to Evaluate the Cost of Stuttering Therapy >>

When individuals decide to make a life-changing decision and seek stuttering therapy, they may be surprised by the cost of treatment that can reach into the thousands. Yet, thinking about cost alone is a deceptive proposition. Rather, learning and retaining fluent can have a dramatic impact on an individual’s personal and professional life.  For this reason, the cost needs to be considered in tandem with the value and outcomes of being able to speak fluently.

Cost of Stuttering

One important idea that should register firmly in the minds of persons who stutter is that stuttering has costs. These costs include lost opportunities for employment or advancement on the job lost possibilities for potentially important social contacts overwhelming discomfort, frustration and anxiety that can be engendered every day by stuttering.

The personal costs for stuttering, like it or not, are extraordinarily high. When one considers the human potential that is bottled up within a person who stutters, and the fact that this set of extraordinary capabilities is not realized at an appropriate level, the costs of stuttering are enormous.

There is yet another cost of stuttering. It involves the cost that comes from missing the simple joy of speaking freely and fluently at will.

Cost of Stuttering Treatment at HCRI

In day-to-day living, most of the objects and services that are worthwhile and necessary have a dollar cost to them. The mechanic at a car dealership is billed at $75 per hour. The cost to have a root canal and crown for an aching tooth can exceed $3,000. Braces on a child’s teeth cost about $5,000. And, the list goes on and on.

At HCRI, the cost for stuttering therapy is well below the national average. For comparison purposes, a “clinical service hour” at HCRI is 60 minutes and priced at $48 for the full hour.  However, the cost for stuttering therapy at other facilities in the U.S. can easily exceed $75 and the clinical service hour is only 45 minutes in length.

While there are stuttering therapy providers who are less costly than HCRI, it is useful to think about the purchase of other important goods and services. Wise choices are usually based on value – what you get in return for the price you pay. Rarely does the cheapest choice provide the same level of satisfaction and results that a value-based choice offers.  HCRI costs and stuttering therapy results yield high value — quite possibly the best value available anywhere.

HCRI program graduates have made a critical investment in their future through their stuttering therapy program participation.  And they are enjoying the benefits of fluent speech in their everyday lives, year over year. A single investment yielded hundreds of thousands of fluent words.

HCRI’s Flexible Payment Options

HCRI offers several options to help you meet the cost of therapy. We have payment plans, scholarships and advice on agencies that might assist in meeting your costs.

Our staff will be glad to help make HCRI’s effective stuttering therapy program available to you. Call 540-265-5650 or click here to send an email for more information.

HCRI Honored by Virginia General Assembly for Stuttering Research and Therapy Innovation >>

The Virginia General Assembly commends Hollins Communications Research Institute for its innovative research and scientifically based treatment services in the field of stuttering, as the nonprofit institute celebrates its 35th anniversary.

PRESS RELEASE:

The Virginia General Assembly unanimously passed a house joint resolution during the 2007 session commending Roanoke-based Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) for its pioneering research and therapy in the field of stuttering.

The resolution was delivered to Executive Director Dr. Ronald Webster over the weekend. It arrived in time to share with clients from across the country who had come to Roanoke to attend the 34th annual HCRI reunion and learn about developments in stuttering therapy.

Founded in 1972 by Webster, HCRI has grown into a world-leading center for the investigation and treatment of stuttering, which affects 64 million people globally. The not-for-profit institute, which is in its 35th year,  is unique from other stuttering centers in that work focuses on developing scientifically based treatment methods and learning technologies, in addition to administering therapy programs.

Nearly 6,000 from the United States and 23 other countries have been treated for stuttering at HCRI’s facility. Therapy program graduates include: John Stossel, co-anchor of ABC 20/20; Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons; Annie Glenn, wife of Senator and astronaut John Glenn; and Lester Hayes of the Oakland Raiders.

Both Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital are now sending patients to the HCRI for stuttering treatment.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the Virginia General Assembly for our continuing work in the field of stuttering,” Webster said.  “Stuttering is a complex physical problem that is deeply misunderstood by people who do not have it.  Those who stutter have limitations beyond comprehension. We are dedicated to finding new and innovative ways to help people speak fluently, which will transform lives and create opportunities never before possible.”

HCRI is in the process of expanding its clinical and research program, and has recently developed a powerful computer program that improves speech measurement for enhancing and sustaining treatment results. HCRI specialists are also working in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health on the genetic analysis of stuttering.

“New projects on previously unrecognized links between speech and hearing are now underway. The studies are already yielding exciting results.  This work may lead us to discover the cause of stuttering – and find a cure during our lifetime.” Webster said.

RESOLUTION:
Virginia General Assembly
House Join Resolution No. 871
Commending Hollins Communications Research Institute

WHEREAS, the Hollins Communications Research Institute, Inc., in Roanoke is a nonprofit educational and research organization dedicated to the treatment of stuttering; and

WHEREAS, the Hollins Communications Research Institute, Inc., founded by Dr. Ronald L. Webster in 1972, scientifically demonstrates the highest success rate in the treatment of stuttering when compared with similar speech therapy programs anywhere in the world; and

WHEREAS, the Hollins Communications Research Institute, Inc., has offered its therapeutic services to more than 5,400 persons, enabling them to communicate fluently with loved ones, colleagues, and people in their everyday life; and

WHEREAS, the Hollins Communications Research Institute, Inc., has attracted clients from throughout the United States and 23 foreign countries to its treatment facility in Southwest Virginia and include students, the United States military, corporate executives, professional athletes, Hollywood entertainers, and local and national news broadcasters; and

WHEREAS, the dedicated staff of the Hollins Communications Research Institute, Inc., commit thousands of hours each year to researching the causes of stuttering and continually improving the treatment programs they provide their clients; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Hollins Communications Research Institute, Inc., on its outstanding services and commitment to helping those unable to speak fluently; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Hollins Communications Research Institute, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for its extraordinary program and remarkable success.

A Few Words About Stuttering Devices

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.

HCRI Stuttering Therapy Program

The Hollins Fluency System
A Stuttering Therapy About You!
HCRI’s therapy results are based directly upon our effectiveness in understanding what each individual brings to the therapy process. Our care in building a solid working relationship with each person, and careful instruction throughout the entire treatment program, give each person in therapy the best chance of learning and retaining fluency skills.

We know how important it is to give you our best effort. Only then will you give your best effort; and, we know from experience, best efforts yield winners.

Stuttering Therapy Program Overview
HCRI offers a unique on-site, 12-day therapy that emphasizes motor skill training and balanced attention to the cognitive and emotional aspects of stuttering. Our therapy is substantially different from other so-called “fluency shaping” or “combination” treatments or therapies you may have received in the past. HCRI utilizes a more focused set of procedures, more specific response details, and scientifically validated training methods. Our clients benefit when we combine these methods with technology and an incredible staff of professionals dedicated specifically to treating the problem of stuttering.

This proven therapy is called The Hollins Fluency System™, and provides treatment within a fixed time frame, at a fixed cost with a known probability of a positive outcome. It is an intensive twelve-day program that uses specialized training procedures to facilitate the learning, retention and transfer into everyday life of fluency targets. Our systematic application of laboratory-derived principles of learning, along with the constant honing and validation of training sequences, provides our clients with fluency skills that can be retained in every day life, without the requirement of “carry-on” programs or post-therapy support groups.

Computer Technology
HCRI has also been a pioneer (since 1971) in using computers to strengthen and expand the processes of stuttering therapy. We have learned how to integrate computers into therapy in a manner that reinforces the learning and retention of fluency skills. Our emphasis on the physical measurement of fluency skills means that we can actually evaluate speech signals in real time and can then indicate to the speaker whether or not he attained the target behavior he was trying to produce. The specialized computers used in the Hollins Fluency System™ provide a strong boost to the learning, and more importantly, the long-term retention of fluent speech. We have found that the computer evaluation of speech is well received by our therapy participants and is judged by them to be user friendly, accurate and reliable.

HCRI has released its new, web based FluencyNet™ system to our graduates. This powerful real-time speech monitoring system provides immediate, accurate measurement of ongoing fluency target use and plots the moment-by-moment results for easy interpretation. FluencyNet™ can be used at Home or in the office to evaluate fluency target use in real-life settings. For example, FluencyNet™ can be used during telephone calls, while in large business meetings and in one-on-one conversations. FluencyNet™ marks a new era in assistance to persons who stutter. Literally, now, objective help is available anywhere a web connection can be made.

Our Staff
HCRI’s staff consists of full-time clinicians, researchers and support personel who specialize in the treatment of stuttering and in research on stuttering. Clinical staff members hold advanced credentials and have extensive experience in working with all levels of stuttering severity. Click Here to meet our staff.

Applying To Hollins Communications Research institute
This special therapy is only available at HCRI in Roanoke, Virginia USA. If you would like to attend HCRI, call us at (540) 265-5650 to request an information packet and application. You can also Apply Online to the Institute.

Stuttering Therapy At HCRI

The Hollins Fluency System

A Stuttering Therapy About You!

HCRI’s therapy results are based directly upon our effectiveness in understanding what each individual brings to the therapy process. Our care in building a solid working relationship with each person, and careful instruction throughout the entire treatment program, give each person in therapy the best chance of learning and retaining fluency skills.

We know how important it is to give you our best effort. Only then will you give your best effort; and, we know from experience, best efforts yield winners.

Stuttering Therapy Program Overview

HCRI offers a unique on-site, 12-day therapy that emphasizes motor skill training and balanced attention to the cognitive and emotional aspects of stuttering. Our therapy is substantially different from other so-called “fluency shaping” or “combination” treatments or therapies you may have received in the past. HCRI utilizes a more focused set of procedures, more specific response details, and scientifically validated training methods. Our clients benefit when we combine these methods with technology and an incredible staff of professionals dedicated specifically to treating the problem of stuttering.

This proven therapy is called The Hollins Fluency System™, and provides treatment within a fixed time frame, at a fixed cost, with a known probability of a positive outcome. It is an intensive twelve-day program that uses specialized training procedures to facilitate the learning, retention and transfer into everyday life of fluency targets. Our systematic application of laboratory-derived principles of learning, along with the constant honing and validation of training sequences, provides our clients with fluency skills that can be retained in every day life, without the requirement of “carry-on” programs or post-therapy support groups.

Computer Technology

HCRI has also been a pioneer (since 1971) in using computers to strengthen and expand the processes of stuttering therapy. We have learned how to integrate computers into therapy in a manner that reinforces the learning and retention of fluency skills. Our emphasis on the physical measurement of fluency skills means that we can actually evaluate speech signals in real time and can then indicate to the speaker whether or not he attained the target behavior he was trying to produce. The specialized computers used in the Hollins Fluency System™ provide a strong boost to the learning, and more importantly, the long-term retention of fluent speech. We have found that the computer evaluation of speech is well received by our therapy participants and is judged by them to be user friendly, accurate and reliable.

HCRI has released its new, web based FluencyNet™ system to our graduates. This powerful real-time speech monitoring system provides immediate, accurate measurement of ongoing fluency target use and plots the moment-by-moment results for easy interpretation. FluencyNet™ can be used at Home or in the office to evaluate fluency target use in real-life settings. For example, FluencyNet™ can be used during telephone calls, while in large business meetings and in one-on-one conversations. FluencyNet™ marks a new era in assistance to persons who stutter. Literally, now, objective help is available anywhere a web connection can be made.

Our Staff

HCRI’s staff consists of full-time clinicians, researchers and support personel who specialize in the treatment of stuttering and in research on stuttering. Clinical staff members hold advanced credentials and have extensive experience in working with all levels of stuttering severity. Click Here to meet our staff.

Applying To Hollins Communications Research institute

This special therapy is only available at HCRI in Roanoke, Virginia USA. If you would like to attend HCRI, call us at (540) 265-5650 to request an information packet and application. You can also Apply Online to the Institute.

I’ve Often Thought What Life Would Be Like Without Receiving Treatment for My Stuttering

Thanks to excellent parents, I went through the HCRI program when I was ten and was the institute’s youngest participant. I’ve often thought what life would be like without receiving treatment for my stuttering.

Growing up with stuttering is devastating. I know others who have stuttered into adulthood and it makes their lives extraordinarily complicated. Whether we like it or not, people judge us by how we look and how we speak. It’s unfortunate, but that’s how things are.

Without stuttering therapy, it would be far more difficult to perform my job. I have daily interaction with co-workers and upper management. I can verbally communicate with anyone on any matter – with confidence.

With fluent speech, I am able to be highly productive and gain respect from people with whom I work. I would advise anyone with a stuttering condition to research all available options and get help. HCRI’s treatment program has made a remarkable difference.

Life is much better without stuttering.

Justin Thomas
Program Manager
US Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security