ARSC Targets And Aims

The major targets for ARSC are to:

• Establish a database for use by researchers and students for the collation of factors concerning the nature and development of stammering


• Identify the early indicators of stammering in childhood which may be used to prevent the development of a chronic problem


• Examine the effectiveness of treatment approaches currently used for early intervention with young children who stammer, and their parents


• Develop further protocols for the evaluation of therapy programmes used at the Michael Palin Centre for children who have more persistent stammering; for example between the ages of 8 - 18 years


• Introduce alternative treatment approaches, for example, the Home Based Therapy Programme, which may be used for families for whom access to the Centre is not possible. A pilot study has already been completed and the programme is being evaluated with a wider group of families


• Develop a project which will examine the alternative strategies which may be effective in working with children and families where stammering is a concern, and whose first language is other than English


• Develop more effective strategies for disseminating information to teachers and other carers who may be influential in the treatment of stammering in childhood. (A new book written by the team at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children is now available - Stammering - A Practical Guide for Teachers and Other Professionals. David Fulton Publishers, London)


• Evaluate and improve the teaching methods currently employed by the Michael Palin Centre team for those speech and language therapists who seek to gain specialist knowledge in the treatment of stammering


• To prepare a manual to help non-specialist speech and language therapists to diagnose and treat stammering in early childhood


• Create a resource centre for all concerned with stammering


• Continue the sponsorship of the Oxford Dysfluency Conference

To continue our research, we are committed to seeking extra funding. Research is expensive, requiring additional resources, highly trained staff and support services. There are many challenges to be faced, but with the continuing support of our staff and our many donors, the board feels confident that we can develop our knowledge and our services to meet these needs in the future.