Tag: hollins communications research institute

Jean DePiro Overcame Stuttering’s Debilitating Impact and Found Her Voice

A LOOK BACK AFTER 30+ YEARS

Music served as a refuge for the young, gifted Jean DePiro who began stuttering before she entered grade school. To escape the relentless taunting from classmates and siblings, Jean would spend time alone playing piano and listening to music. She would also sing to herself, since the physical properties that drive stuttering are typically not present when someone sings.

While growing up, Jean’s stuttering inhibited her from participating in classroom discussions, making new friends, and engaging in social activities. Her speech condition eroded her confidence and made her reclusive.

Jean DePiro Overcame Stuttering
Jean DePiro

“As a massive stutterer, I was miserable. I couldn’t pick up the phone and say hello. I couldn’t communicate with others. And, I simply shut down. Music was my only joy,” she said.

That all changed when Jean turned 17. Her parents learned about the pioneering work in stuttering therapy at Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI). HCRI’s research scientists had identified a new way to view and treat stuttering. The result was a transforming, immersion therapy that systematically teaches individuals how to use speech muscles in new ways to control stuttering and speak fluently.

Jean enrolled in the nonprofit center’s three-week program and began therapy with 10 other participants from across the country. She worked intensely each day under the guidance of the center’s clinicians. Her efforts paid off. By the end of treatment, Jean was able to speak fluently for the first time in her life. In addition, she was amazed by her ability to talk with ease when standing in front of other participants. Prior to HCRI, speaking before a group was a terrifying concept.

“I was in tears by what I had accomplished,” Jean explained. “When you struggle with stuttering for so many years and have it resolved in such a short time, it is an overwhelming experience.”

According to HCRI President Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., “HCRI therapy is founded on science and tested with thousands of cases. Clients learn step-by-step exactly what they need to do with their speech muscles to achieve fluency. They are instructed by specially trained clinicians and use HCRI’s proprietary technology to make fluency acquisition easier, precise and long lasting.”

HCRI’s program, which is now 12 days in length, is effective across a wide range of stuttering types and severities. It yields proven, quantitative fluency outcomes. Research demonstrates that 93% of participants achieve fluent speech by the end of treatment and 75% sustain their fluency when evaluated two years later.

After Jean returned home from HCRI, she felt a new sense of freedom and potential. “My experience with HCRI therapy was life-changing,” she said. “For so long, I didn’t have a voice. Thanks to HCRI, now I do and I love to talk.”

More than three decades later, Jean continues to use the fluency skills she learned at HCRI. Her speech never holds her back from anything she wants to do. Music continues to play an important role in her life. She serves as the music director for a popular theatre house, as well as a church choir director and organist, while working in Revenue Cycle Training at the University of Virginia Hospital.

Moreover, she used her journey from stuttering to fluency to inspire a student she met at the University of Virginia. She shared her story and encouraged the student to seek HCRI stuttering treatment to help him realize his career dreams. He took her advice and is facing a future filled with opportunities through fluency.

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About HCRI

HCRI was founded by Ronald L Webster, Ph.D. in 1972 to investigate stuttering through scientific discovery and treatment innovation. Virginia-based HCRI, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has become an international leader in stuttering research and the development of scientifically derived therapy approaches.

More than 6,500 people from across the U.S. and 50 countries have come to HCRI for stuttering treatment. Clients come from all walks of life and include teachers, business professionals, athletes, broadcasters, engineers, musicians, students, doctors, military personnel, police officers, actors, a Supreme Court nominee, and even royalty.

HCRI is located at 7851 Enon Drive, Roanoke, Va. 24019. For more information, visit www.stuttering.org or contact HCRI at (540) 265-5650.

11 Insights into the Stuttering Therapy Experience at Hollins Communications Research Institute

For individuals who stutter, finding the right therapy can make the difference between minimal speech improvement and lasting, strong fluency. At Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI), we encourage everyone to study therapy options before making a treatment decision. It is vital to learn about each provider’s approach, experience and fluency results.

The HCRI ExperienceStuttering is one of the most difficult disorders to treat. Yet, with the right therapy, people can achieve the ability to speak fluently for the long term. As you navigate your options, we encourage you to compare HCRI’s 12-day immersion program with other stuttering therapy choices.

HCRI stuttering therapy is based on the scientific analysis of what happens when people stutter, along with the identification of exactly what needs to be done to replace the distorted muscle movements that give rise to stuttering.

Our intensive therapy teaches individuals who stutter how to use their speech muscles in new ways to stop stuttering and generate fluent speech in all types of speaking situations.

The HCRI stuttering therapy experience is designed to be powerful, practical and transforming. HCRI President Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., describes it as follows.

1. Up Close and Personal
Our 12-day immersion program works successfully with stuttering types that range from very mild to very severe. Our focus every minute of the day is centered on helping you achieve lasting fluency. You will have personalized, one-on-one guidance from our skilled treatment team, as well as work in a small group setting with others who stutter. HCRI’s program involves a proven system that is tailored to your specific speech challenges. You will feel unwavering support and a sense of personal accomplishment as each day unfolds.

2. Long-Term Fluency as the End Goal
HCRI stuttering therapy provides unmatched learning opportunities for the precise skills that generate fluent speech. We are dedicated to helping you acquire these skills and provide you with the tools and support you need to speak fluently for the rest of your life.

3. Lifetime of Connections
During your short time at HCRI, you will establish strong connections with our clinical team, as well as with others who are going through the therapy experience with you. Often HCRI participants cultivate close friendships with one another that last for years after they return home. Moreover, our clinicians will always be available to you after therapy. At HCRI, we are your partner in fluency for life.

4. Grounded in Science to Yield Results
Our team of research scientists invented HCRI stuttering therapy after extensive analysis and testing. Through the years, the treatment program has been continually advanced through careful scientific studies. As a participant, you will benefit from each of our discoveries and engage in a proven therapy that raises the bar on clinical excellence with demonstrated outcomes. Additionally, you will use treatment technologies, also invented here, that foster proficient, long-lasting learning of fluency skills.

5. Commitment and Reward
Your HCRI therapy experience will call for a lot of work and dedication on your part. During the 12 days you spend at our Virginia center, you will be immersed in the HCRI therapy process and away from all the distractions that come with daily life. Your time and commitment will be well worth it. Nearly all the people who complete our treatment program will emphasize that. Participating in HCRI stuttering therapy will provide you with the skills to speak fluently and confidently.

6. Proven Approach
After treating thousands who stutter, we know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to providing effective stuttering treatment. Speech is very complex. We break it down into a series of learnable, small steps that make it possible for you to achieve fluency. Research demonstrates that 93 percent of HCRI participants achieve fluent speech by the end of their 12-day program and 75 percent maintain fluency when evaluated two years later.

7. One-of-a-Kind Therapy
The HCRI therapy program, with its detailed protocols and advanced technologies, is offered only here at our nonprofit center in Virginia. No other therapy matches HCRI. Our clients tell us that there are other providers who claim they do the same thing as HCRI. That is flatly not true. Other providers may use some of the same terms. But that is where it ends. Our therapy protocols are different. Our operations are different. Our clinician training is different. And, our treatment technology is only available at HCRI. Moreover, to ensure therapy consistency and reliability, we maintain stringent quality controls that are not available elsewhere.

8. Highly Skilled Clinical Team
HCRI clinicians are practiced and motivated to help you make the best of what we offer. Our clinicians are recognized for their compassion and expert technical skills. They work exclusively with individuals who stutter and have experience treating a broad range of stuttering types and severities. Our clinicians treat more people who stutter in one year than most speech therapists treat throughout their careers.

9. Magnet for Motivated Individuals
People who come to HCRI desire to be achievers. They seek us out to advance their quality of life through fluency and enable a bright future. During HCRI treatment, you will participate with a others from all walks of life who share your passion to live a fluent life. While your learning process may be individually tuned, you will immediately feel the support and encouragement from everyone you meet – our clinicians, other participants and the HCRI staff.

10. Experience and Know-How
If you seek an effective, premier therapy to address your stuttering, you would be hard pressed to find one that equals what we do at HCRI. We have treated more than 6,500 individuals who stutter. This depth and scope is unparalleled in the treatment of stuttering.

11. Where Fluency Happens
If you want to achieve lasting fluency, it makes sense to attend a program that has a rich history of helping people address the unique human disorder of stuttering. If results matter to you, then HCRI’s program has consistently demonstrated positive and lasting fluency outcomes for nearly 50 years. You will be impressed and delighted once you start the therapy process with its power, reliability and true effectiveness.

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About HCRI

HCRI was founded by Ronald L Webster, Ph.D. in 1972 to investigate stuttering through scientific discovery and treatment innovation. Virginia-based HCRI, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has become an international leader in stuttering research and the development of scientifically derived therapy approaches.

Individuals who stutter have traveled from across the U.S. and 50 countries to participate in the HCRI stuttering therapy experience. Clients come from all walks of life and include teachers, business professionals, athletes, broadcasters, engineers, musicians, students, doctors, military personnel, police officers, actors, a Supreme Court nominee, and even royalty.

HCRI is located at 7851 Enon Drive in Roanoke, Va. For more information, visit www.stuttering.org or contact HCRI at (540) 265-5650 or info@stuttering.org.

Read HCRI Reviews from Past Stuttering Therapy Participants

INTRODUCTION

At Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI), our team members have dedicated their careers to helping individuals who stutter open new doors of opportunity through fluency. We began in 1972 by researching stuttering and inventing the world’s first comprehensive, behavioral stuttering therapy. Since that time, we have continually enhanced our 12-day immersion treatment by incorporating learning from our new discoveries and technological advancements. Today, HCRI therapy delivers among the highest documented fluency outcomes for stuttering treatment.

ReviewsIn addition to our persistent investigation of stuttering and analyses of HCRI’s program, we seek ongoing feedback from our stuttering therapy clients. This input is invaluable as we continually elevate our therapy offerings.

Along the way, our clients also post HCRI reviews about their experiences with our program and our team. We are humbled by the comments written about our therapy and would like to take this opportunity to share the reviews we received in the past month.

These reviews represent a compilation of what has been posted in the past 30 days on Google, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau site. In addition, we have included reviews that were directly sent to us.

HCRI REVIEWS

HCRI offers what really can be called speech reconstruction. It is a 12-day intensive program which demands much work and effort, yet the fruits are well worth it. I attended the program 2 weeks ago and my family, friends and colleagues can’t believe the difference it has made in my speech, being almost completely fluent. Yet, I know I will need to continually practice, but it’s a small price to pay. I am profoundly grateful for the program and all the clinicians who have helped me achieve fluency. The staff at HCRI are warm, friendly and very helpful. I highly recommend the program, as perhaps the best for speech fluency.
    -Robert

 

This program is difficult, like most things that are worth it. They taught me the skills and techniques to speak fluently, and I would recommend this to anyone who is willing to put in the effort and dedication. It gave me newfound confidence in my vocal abilities, and myself as a person.
     -Iain Mayer

 

If you have a stutter and want to learn real ways to overcome it, then why go anywhere else? I went from the kid who stutters to the kid who is fluent in 12 days. Now I am not saying it’s easy by any imagination but this is the pinnacle. And I urge you to come here if you stutter at all
     – Carl Stewart II

 

Very professional setting with highly skilled clinicians and office staff. You are taught a variety of techniques that will help you succeed in fluent speaking. I highly recommend this program for anyone who stutters. With hard work and dedication this program will make you fluent.
     -Ernie B.

 

Going to HCRI was a great experience and helped me achieve a much higher level of fluency than I ever thought was possible.
     -John Tamisiea

 

HCRI really helped me develop new skills and strategies to cope with my stutter. Although I am still working on developing fluent speech every day, I’m glad I got the opportunity to come. This program requires a lot of work and dedication, but overall, it was worth it.
     -Sophie Thelk

 

Excellent program. You will be fluent when you complete the program, however; it takes a lot of work to remain fluent. You must practice daily to remain proficient in the tools that are taught. I completed the program about a year ago. It has been a life changer for me especially for job interviews. HCRI provides an abundance of support once you complete the program to help you remain on course and fluent.
     -Morgan M.

 

Like others have said, it’s a very difficult program. While I was there, it worked beautifully. My friends and family talking to me on the phone were very impressed. Unfortunately, it didn’t stick because I had way too many problems that took my focus away from it…

The reason I’m giving such a high rating even though it didn’t work for me is that I’ve seen it help people even after they left. So it works, but it’s certainly not for everybody. In addition, the staff there is amazing – some of the kindest staff ever. Especially the office manager Linda… who helps you sign up and you see daily. Maybe someday after I get my life together, I will be back, till then keep on helping people HCRI.
     -J. T.

 

Highly professional and true to their words. If you work hard with their clinicians, you will definitely be fluent by the end of their program. I highly recommend them.
     -James A.

 

I have stuttered since childhood and been in and out of speech therapy with very little improvement. Nothing has helped me as much as HCRI. I feel like I finally have a voice and it has changed my life significantly for the better! I wish I had attended much sooner in life. I’m very thankful for HCRI. It is a very supportive and encouraging environment. It’s also wonderful to meet and spend time with fellow stutterers. I could not have found a better speech therapy program. Thanks HCRI
     -Kate Moschak

 

I attended HCRI first in the mid-nineties and have taken a couple of refresher courses in the last 10 years. The biggest effect that Hollins has had on me was to make me realize that I had the ability to speak fluently – and that there was nothing inherently wrong with my speech apparatus.

I learned how to articulate and voice every type of sound we use in speech. It was an amazing feeling when I walked out after the course with full confidence that I could speak fluently. That belief is what keeps me practicing whenever I feel myself drifting back to old habits. The staff at HCRI is fantastic. Definitely life changing for me personally.
     -Chetan Cariappa

 

I highly recommend Hollins Communications Research Institute for the specialized treatment of stuttering. I attended the program in 1992 and still speak fluently today. It was the only speech therapy program that ever helped me long term to speak fluently and hundreds of other graduates have told me the same thing about their experience. I have been able to use my speaking skills to fulfill my career aspirations and I even formed an alumni practice group in the NYC area. Attending HCRI was the best decision I ever made to improve my speech…
     -Russell Weiser

 

As far as I’m concerned, HCRI is the gold standard for helping stutterers become fluent. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone searching for a way to overcome their stutter. It has helped me immensely.
     -Raphael Rosen

 

HCRI was transforming not only for my speech but for my life overall. Within the first 2 days I could feel 55 years of tension and tightness dissipating in my body. My wife could hear immediately on the phone the early changes in my speech. …I was definitely fluent by graduation. The post-graduation support is what insures continued fluency. Phone and email contact with my clinician, Holly, on a regular basis allow for feedback and suggestions for fine tuning my practice sessions and speaking techniques. “Hollins Fluency System II” is simply the most advanced and successful therapy program for stutterers on the planet!

In addition to normal conversational speech, I have successfully spoken to and taken questions from as many as 500 people in concert halls on stage. I have also been filmed in interviews and have been a guest on live network television, successfully answering questions and commenting with wonderful fluency. I have shared with only a very few new friends that I was a stutterer – and when I do they about stand back and fall down.
     -Richard Sortomme

 

Having fluent speech after years of not having it changes everything you’re used to. You have more confidence interacting with others. Where in the past I wouldn’t start conversations – or if I had to be involved in one – I would try to avoid hard words. I now express ideas and thoughts that I didn’t in the past.

I had tried other programs in the past and none worked for me. HCRI changed my life. The clinicians really do care. If you do your part by doing the work, you can become fluent. It takes commitment on your part, but it’s worth it. I would encourage anyone who stutters to seriously consider HCRI. They have a proven track record and they tell you up front what you have to do. I would definitely give them a thumbs up and rate them at 5 stars.
     -M. C. Bennett

 

ABOUT HCRI

HCRI was founded by Ronald L Webster, Ph.D. in 1972 to investigate stuttering through scientific discovery and treatment innovation. Virginia-based HCRI, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has become an international leader in stuttering research and the development of scientifically derived therapy approaches.

More than 6,500 people from across the U.S. and 50 countries have come to HCRI for stuttering treatment. Clients come from all walks of life and include teachers, business professionals, athletes, broadcasters, engineers, musicians, students, doctors, military personnel, police officers, actors, a Supreme Court nominee, and even royalty.

HCRI is located at 7851 Enon Drive, Roanoke, Va. 24019. For more information, visit www.stuttering.org or contact HCRI at (540) 265-5650.

For Stuttering Therapy Clients, HCRI is a Partner in Fluency for Life

At Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI), we help individuals who stutter achieve and maintain fluent speech for a lifetime. Our involvement with clients extends long after their participation in our 12-day stuttering therapy program. In fact, we serve as a partner in fluency for life.

On the last day of therapy, clients receive an extensive package of fluency-practice tools and support that help habituate speech techniques learned during HCRI’s treatment program. HCRI “alumni” are encouraged to practice their newly acquired fluency skills once they return home. We also encourage them to check in regularly after therapy and reach out whenever they need guidance from our clinicians.

HCRI is your partner in fluency for lifeFor many participants, HCRI stuttering therapy is a one-time experience where fluent speech has replaced stuttering – and additional treatment is not necessary. Research demonstrates that 93 percent of clients achieve fluency by the end of their 12-day therapy program. In addition, 75 percent maintain fluent speech when evaluated two years after treatment.

Some alumni may request additional assistance if they find their fluency has gotten off track after a period of time. This is why the institute hosts alumni refresher programs that are held on-site at HCRI and remotely via the web. Along with ongoing contact with HCRI clinicians, these refreshers have proven to be beneficial for clients.

For example, an alumna who attended HCRI stuttering therapy nearly 25 years ago sent the following note after she was tasked with giving a challenging presentation at work. Before her presentation, she engaged in a remote Alumni Refresher program with one of HCRI’s clinicians. The therapy was conducted using FaceTime and a computer. It included eight one-hour sessions, which were scheduled twice per week.

“I’m so proud to share a recent experience with you. As you know, I serve as a faculty member and researcher in higher education and regularly teach online and present at conferences. But the circumstances at the conference last week were more challenging than usual.

I presented to an audience of approximately 100 attendees in person. The session was also being professionally filmed for later viewing, and live streamed to virtual attendees. Knowing that I was being filmed, plus the bright camera lights in my eyes, created additional pressure. But I did it! I fought the urge to rely on spontaneous fluency. I focused on full breath and amplitude contour [that I learned at HCRI] and felt confident in my ability to produce fluent speech.

Again, I speak at conferences all the time, but not typically under these conditions. This scenario would’ve made any speaker nervous. Afterward, I had a moment of reflection and appreciation that I am a stutterer and I just did something pretty amazing.

…Thank you for your help and continued support. I’ll check in again next week.”

In addition to remote refresher programs for alumni, HCRI provides on-site, five-day Alumni Refreshers, two-day Target Tune-Ups, Alumni Retreats, hourly remote therapy sessions, and a variety of other offerings. For more details on these and other alumni-support services, click on the link below.

Learn more about HCRI’s post-therapy resources >>

About HCRI

HCRI was founded by Ronald L Webster, Ph.D. in 1972 to investigate stuttering through scientific discovery and treatment innovation. Virginia-based HCRI, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has become an international leader in stuttering research and the development of scientifically derived therapy approaches.

More than 6,500 people from across the U.S. and 50 countries have come to HCRI to achieve fluency. Clients come from all walks of life and include teachers, business professionals, athletes, broadcasters, engineers, musicians, students, doctors, military personnel, police officers, actors, a Supreme Court nominee, and even royalty.

HCRI is located at 7851 Enon Drive, Roanoke, Va. 24019. For more information, visit www.stuttering.org or contact HCRI at (540) 265-5650.

 

 

New Research at HCRI Designed to Advance the Understanding and Treatment of Stuttering

Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) is recognized nationally for providing advanced treatment for stuttering, along with extensive post-therapy support to alumni from across the country and around the globe. Yet, as our institute name reflects, research is inherent to our mission. We are committed to furthering the understanding of stuttering and how to treat the condition most effectively.

HCRI Research We continually work on the frontiers of knowledge and technology to improve the analysis and treatment of stuttering.

The outcomes of recent research include the rollout of our remote-access refresher program for HCRI alumni and a new children’s stuttering therapy program.

In addition, we have exciting, new research endeavors underway that are summarized below. Much of this groundbreaking research can only be conducted at HCRI. The scope and depth of our experience makes such work possible.

Genetics of Stuttering and HCRI Stuttering Therapy Efficacy

We have partnered with Dr. Dennis Drayna and his team at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to evaluate the impact of HCRI therapy on individuals who have mutant genes for stuttering and those who do not possess such genes. The research is now complete and we are awaiting publication of the findings. Once the article is published, we will be in a position to discuss the results and implications for our treatment of stuttering.

Quantitative Measurement of Fluent and Stuttered Speech

One of the great challenges with stuttering treatment lies in the subjective scoring of disfluent speech events. To address this, we are working on the first ever system to quantitatively measure and track stuttered vs. fluent speech through multidimensional acoustic analysis. Through the real-time scoring of critical speech parameters, we will be able to advance the effectiveness of both the assessment and treatment of stuttering.

These and other research initiatives are made possible through ongoing support from HCRI alumni and friends. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, HCRI relies on gifts to continue changing lives through fluency. By donating to HCRI, individuals help…

  • Fund important new research to enhance the understanding of stuttering and its treatment, with the ultimate objective of finding a cure.
  • Provide essential operational support that enables HCRI to continue providing life-changing stuttering therapy.
  • Make therapy scholarships possible for individuals in need.

Donors may designate their tax-deductible gift to be used for research, scholarships and/or HCRI’s operating fund. One hundered percent of donation dollars are used to advance the understanding and treatment of stuttering.

If you are interested in helping individuals who stutter through a gift to HCRI, please click here: Donate to HCRI >>

About HCRI Stuttering Therapy

HCRI’s stuttering therapy is a science-based, immersion program that teaches individuals how to control stuttering by replacing faulty muscle movements that give rise to stuttering with new muscle behaviors that generate fluent speech.

For 12 days, therapy participants work in a small group setting and are guided by specially trained clinicians who teach skills that help individuals overcome stuttering and speak fluently. HCRI’s therapy technology is used in the treatment process to help individuals acquire fluency with greater ease and precision. Therapy takes place in the clinical environment, as well as in real-world settings.

By the end of 12 days, research demonstrates that 93 percent of participants achieve fluent speech. Follow-up studies reveal that 75 percent of clients maintain their fluency skills when evaluated two years post therapy.

Watch before-and-after therapy videos >>

To learn more about HCRI’s stuttering therapy approach, call (540) 265-5650 or send an email to info@stuttering.org.

 

 

Words of Advice from Past HCRI Clients to Incoming Stuttering Therapy Participants

Following are insights provided by stuttering therapy clients who completed their 12-day intensive treatment at Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI – stuttering.org) in Roanoke, Virginia.

HCRI therapy adviceAt the end of their HCRI therapy program, clients were asked to write a few words of advice for individuals who are preparing to come to the national stuttering therapy center. Here’s what they shared.

Advice from Past Clients

“Leave the past behind. We all have a new life in front of us. We all have the ability to move forward. This is going to change your life forever. No one is worth it more than you. Believe in the program and in yourself, this will lead to a lifetime of success.”

“We may not choose to stutter but we choose to be fluent. Realize the choice and invest in yourself.”

“Take these 12 days to disconnect from the rest of your life and focus on the one aspect that has troubled you for so long. It will take 100% of your effort but… you are one step closer to commanding your fluency.”

“We didn’t say it was going to be easy. We said it’s going to be worth it.”

“You have already made the effort to change your life by coming [to HCRI], that right there shows so much in yourself. Don’t give up you can change your life.”

“The journey to fluency may not be easy but there is light at the end of the tunnel. That light is called fluency!”

“Focus on where you are now going, the possibilities ahead of you, not where you have been.”

“This can be a turning point in your life. For me I know it will be because I will practice as much as the clinicians tell me. If you make the same wise choice, you will be limitless.”

“This program works, I know. I was once where you are. I beat stuttering and here’s what it takes: Practice – Patience – Perseverance – Payoff!”

About HCRI Stuttering Therapy

HCRI’s program is a science-based, immersion therapy that teaches individuals  how to control stuttering by replacing faulty muscle movements that give rise to stuttering with new muscle behaviors that generate fluent speech.

For 12 days, therapy participants work in a small group setting and are guided by specially trained clinicians who teach skills that help individuals overcome stuttering and speak fluently. HCRI’s therapy technology is used in the treatment process to help individuals acquire fluency with greater ease and precision. Therapy takes place in the clinical environment, as well as in real-world settings.

By the end of 12 days, research demonstrates that 93 percent of participants achieve fluent speech. Follow-up studies reveal that 70 to 75 percent of clients maintain their fluency skills when evaluated one and two years post therapy.

Watch before-and-after therapy videos >>

To learn more about HCRI’s  stuttering therapy approach, send an email or call us at (540) 265-5650.  

To begin your journey to fluency with HCRI, complete a therapy application.  Then, a member of HCRI’s team will reach out to discuss next steps and schedule your therapy session. 

 

Why HCRI for Stuttering Therapy?

Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D.
Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D.

This article by Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., president of Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI), discusses why individuals who stutter turn to HCRI to treat their speech condition and achieve fluency.

Most of our clients are weary of stuttering when they first reach out to HCRI for help. They are tired of the frustrations, the uncertainties about the impact their stuttering has on others – and for many, the persistent lack of success they have experienced with previous therapies. They are just normal people who sometimes have trouble speaking. And, by the completion of our 12-day stuttering therapy, they became normal people who can speak fluently and spontaneously.

HCRI offers a better than 90% chance that new clients will achieve fluent speech by the end of our 12-day program. And, at one- and two-years post HCRI, 70% and 75% respectively are retaining normal fluency. Just as importantly, they experience normal reactions to everyday speaking situations.

Focus on Therapy Excellence

At our Virginia-based center, we developed and administer our stuttering treatment program called Hollins Fluency System III: High Definition Speech Reconstruction for Stuttering. We have learned that for a person to be successful in learning and locking in the behavioral details that actively generate fluent speech, it takes a close-up and personal form of instruction. It also takes an intensive therapy schedule to accomplish the training goals for our program.

We constantly study our program structure, the instruction sets, the electronic components of our system, and the clinician instructions and interactions with our clients. If we find weaknesses in performance within any component of our system, we isolate it, study it, and make corrections. When we discover opportunities that elevate the therapy experience and outcomes, we make enhancements. Our focus is to continually strengthen our therapy for the benefit of the clients we serve.

Our program is validated by the positive results obtained with literally thousands of persons who stutter. We believe that our therapy offers each person who demonstrates developmental stuttering a solid opportunity to become a fluent speaker. After all, we know from direct experience that most individuals who come to HCRI have the motivation and willingness to learn that make them successful within and beyond our program.

Comprehensive Post-Therapy Support

HCRI provides an excellent, multi-faceted package of post-therapy support for each participant. While most program graduates do not require additional help, some benefit from taking advantage of our offerings. For example, there are clinical contacts offered on an as needed basis. We also offer support group participation for persons who benefit from practicing their fluency skills with each other.

We provide each therapy graduate with FluencyNet, a computer-based speech monitoring system for use on their home computer. FluencyNet helps habituate fluency skills taught during therapy by providing users with real-time measurements of speech utterances and immediate, accurate feedback that guides client practice of correct responses. HCRI’s Voice Monitor app for the iPhone puts a “clinician in your pocket” that can be used by clients anywhere to evaluate and practice their fluency skills.

Unmatched Quality and Sophistication

We are not aware of another treatment for stuttering, anywhere in the world, that operates at the levels demonstrated by HCRI’s program. Our clinicians work each year with more persons who stutter than most clinicians are likely to see in a professional lifetime.

For a direct path to improving both your fluency and the quality of your personal life, HCRI provides a comprehensive and successful treatment for stuttering that is:

(1) Delivered within a fixed time frame;
(2) Provided with a known cost; and,
(3) Presented with a known probability of both short-term and long-term positive results.

We provide a unique, comprehensive system for bringing robust, fluent speech to individuals who stutter. We have extensive data that validates the effectiveness of our treatment for stuttering. We can say, with critical accuracy, that we have learned a few important facts about stuttering – and we have assembled them in a solid manner to help people improve the realization of their personal potential through fluent speech.

HCRI Therapy Impact 

The work we do each and every day is designed to achieve the ultimate objective of improving lives through fluency. A recent client survey revealed the following.

  • 96% said our therapy program was worthwhile to them.
  • 79% said their personal happiness and satisfaction increased post therapy.
  • 69% said they improved their social life and relationships after their HCRI experience.
  • 84% reported increased confidence after participating in HCRI stuttering therapy.
  • 78% said HCRI therapy participation helped enhance their quality of life.

Your Choice, Your Future  

If you believe that you can find a more objective and effective treatment for your stuttering, then we recommend you take it. In fact, we encourage individuals to compare therapy programs side-by-side. If you recognize that HCRI offers an important set of stuttering therapy advantages, we invite you to come to the institute, do the work, and generate a better quality to your life through fluency.

We always welcome inquiries and questions. We talk with persons who stutter every day and encourage you to reach out at (540) 265-5650 or info@stuttering.org.

If you would like to submit an application for our therapy program, please click here: Apply to HCRI.

HCRI is located at 7851 Enon Drive in Roanoke, Virginia. All therapy is adminstered in Roanoke at our national center.

6 Reasons to Choose HCRI Stuttering Therapy

6 Reasons to Choose HCRIIf you are looking for an effective stuttering therapy where you will acquire lifelong skills to speak confidently and fluently, we invite you to learn more about Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI).

Here are six reasons to choose HCRI’s 12-day stuttering therapy program.

1. UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE
We’ve treated thousands who stutter with our award-winning, science-based therapy. We know precisely what works and what doesn’t when it comes to helping you achieve lasting fluency.

2. PROVEN RESULTS
HCRI therapy has proven, documented fluency outcomes. That means you know your probability of success before therapy: 93% achieve fluent speech in 12 days and 75% retain fluency after two years.

3. WORLD-CLASS CLINICIANS
Our clinicians are the only speech professionals in the world who complete a rigorous, 500-hour training before administering HCRI therapy. That means you benefit from the highest standards of clinical excellence to maximize your fluency results.

4. LIFETIME OF SUPPORT
We are your partner in fluency for life. After your therapy, you benefit from a lifetime of personalized clinical support and practice tools to help you maintain your fluency.

5. REMARKABLE VALUE
At HCRI, you receive 100 hours of therapy for a cost that is about half that of traditional speech therapies. In addition, your path to fluency takes just 12 days.

6. ENHANCED CAREER POTENTIAL
After participating in HCRI therapy, the majority of clients say they were able to advance their careers and earnings.

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More than 6,500 people from across the U.S. and 50 countries have come to HCRI for stuttering treatment. Clients represent all walks of life and include teachers, business professionals, athletes, broadcasters, engineers, musicians, students, doctors, military personnel, police officers, actors, a Supreme Court nominee, and even royalty.  

Founded by Ronald L Webster, Ph.D. in 1972, Virginia-based HCRI is an international leader in stuttering research and the development of scientifically derived therapy approaches.

For information about the one-of-a-kind, behavioral therapy offered at HCRI, visit www.stuttering.org and/or contact us by email or phone at (540) 265-5650.

 

News Update from HCRI … and How You Can Help Shape the Future

HCRI NewsWe have exciting developments underway here at Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI), including initiatives that will impact how stuttering is viewed and treated in the future.

As you review a summary of our news below, we ask you to consider giving a gift to our nonprofit center that will enable these projects to flourish. Our goal is to raise $125,000 by the end of 2018.

HCRI News Update

Mutant Genes for Stuttering – Research Initiative:
We are leading a study with the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders that examines the impact of HCRI therapy on persons with mutant genes for stuttering. The findings may lead to an exciting new way to target stuttering therapy to optimize outcomes.

New Stuttering Therapy Program for Young Children:
We have initiated test trials on a new clinical treatment program that is designed to enable fluent speech in children. It would be terrific if we could bring this new method into our HCRI offerings and help children near and far eliminate the burdens of stuttering in their early lives.

Remote Refresher Training for HCRI Alumni:
We have rolled out a program for past therapy participants that enables distance refresher training via the web. While we do not yet have our 12-day therapy available remotely, we have a solid base through this effort that will lead to that long-term goal.

Scholarship Assistance:
We are once again working to increase scholarship assistance to young adults who want our therapy but who cannot afford to attend. The opportunity to participate in HCRI therapy can transform their futures.

How You Can Help

Please help us reach our goal of raising $125,000 by the end of the year. At HCRI, we are on the threshold of remarkable developments that represent new avenues to help more persons achieve fluency. Your tax-deductible donation can make a better tomorrow for individuals who stutter. Please consider a gift to HCRI today. Thank you in advance for your support.

To learn more about the important work we do, please visit www.stuttering.org or call us at (540) 265-5650.

About HCRI

HCRI is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. The pioneering center was founded by Ronald L Webster, Ph.D. in 1972 to investigate stuttering through scientific discovery and treatment innovation. Virginia-based HCRI is now an international leader in stuttering research and the development of scientifically derived therapy approaches.

More than 6,500 people from across the U.S. and 50 countries have come to HCRI for stuttering treatment. Clients come from all walks of life and include teachers, business professionals, athletes, broadcasters, engineers, musicians, students, doctors, military personnel, police officers, actors, a Supreme Court nominee, and even royalty.

HCRI Alumni: Do you need to get your fluency skills back on track?

Join us for an HCRI Alumni Refresher or Target Tune-up before the end of 2018

HCRI Stuttering Therapy Headquarters
HCRI headquarters is in Roanoke, Virginia.

If you want to work on your fluency skills and build speaking confidence before the end of the year, we encourage you to participate in one of our upcoming Alumni Refresher or Target Tune-up programs. You will find these HCRI alumni programs productive and beneficial.

Alumni Refresher
October 22-26 or December 10-14

During this five-day refresher, you will join other HCRI alumni and engage in an in-depth review of the fluency skills taught during the institute’s 12-day stuttering therapy. Led by HCRI’s skilled clinicians, this program is designed to help you recapture the ability to control your stuttering and speak fluently in everyday situations.

Target Tune-up
December 17-19

HCRI’s Target Tune-up runs two and a half days and focuses on finessing target production to optimize your fluency. You will work on your speech in HCRI’s small group setting and benefit from one-on-one clinician support.

There are a limited number of spots for these program dates. Therefore, please contact us right away if you are interested in participating.

Next Steps

Holly Humphreys
HCRI Clinical Supervisor Holly Humphreys

To determine which alumni program is best suited to your needs, contact Clinical Supervisor Holly Humphreys at 540-265-5659 or holly@stuttering.org.

Holly will also assist you with registration and answer any questions you have. We look forward to welcoming you back to HCRI.

If you have not attended HCRI stuttering therapy and would like to learn more, please contact us at (540) 265-5650 or info@stuttering.org.  We also encourage you to visit us at www.stuttering.org to learn about our science-based approach to stuttering therapy, see therapy outcomes, and watch before-and-after videos.