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An estimated 66 million people stutter worldwide, with three millionliving in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health. Thecondition can impair social growth, hinder education and career aspirations,and produce life-long emotional scars. HCRI's research has shown thatstuttering is a physically based disorder. It is not caused by underlyingpersonality deficiencies, persistent anxieties or mental dysfunctions.
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HCRI's new scholarship program is designed to broaden accessibility ofadvanced stuttering treatment by offsetting the cost of tuition to attend theInstitute's 12-day intensive therapy program.
"We are now able to offer scholarships thanks to the generosity of pastclients who wanted to give the gift of fluency to others because ourstuttering therapy has made such a remarkable difference in their lives," saidHCRI Founder and President Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D.
Scholarships will be awarded according to need and will range from $500 tofull tuition. The cost of HCRI stuttering treatment is $4,500, which ispriced to meet the Institute's actual costs of research and therapy delivery.
HCRI's stuttering treatment program, Hollins Fluency Program: AdvancedSpeech Reconstruction for Stuttering(TM), helps people who stutter learn howto replace faulty muscle contractions that cause stuttering with new musclebehaviors that generate fluent speech. By reconstructing muscle actions thatdrive movements of the tongue, lips, jaw, vocal folds, and breathingmechanisms, individuals who stutter acquire the ability to speak fluently forthe rest of their lives.
According to the Institute's data, 93% of HCRI clients master fluentspeech by the end of therapy. Since 1972, Roanoke, Virginia based HCRI hastreated more than 5,600 people who stutter, ranging in age from 11 to 73 yearsof age.
To apply for a scholarship, persons must first complete an application toattend one of HCRI's 17 annual therapy programs. A program application isavailable online at http://www.stuttering.org or by calling 540-265-5650.Then, individuals may request consideration for a scholarship and will be senta form to complete.
Scholarship requests are currently being accepted for HCRI's fall andwinter therapy programs. Awards will be selective and determined according tohousehold income, number of dependents, and other financial factors.
"With our new scholarship program, we will be able to treat a greaternumber of people who otherwise could not afford to come for treatment. Weencourage anyone who stutters to apply," Dr. Webster emphasized.
For more information about HCRI's stuttering treatment and scholarshipawards, visit http://www.stuttering.org or call the Institute at 540-265-5650.
About HCRI
Hollins Communications Research Institute (http://www.stuttering.org),founded in 1972 by Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., has grown into a world-leadingcenter for the investigation and treatment of stuttering. More than 5,600people from 23 countries have come to HCRI for stuttering therapy. Clientsinclude John Stossel of ABC TV's 20/20 program; Arthur Blank, cofounder ofHome Depot; and Annie Glenn, wife of senator and astronaut John Glenn.
HCRI is located at 7851 Enon Drive, Roanoke, Virginia, 24019. Contact HCRIat [email protected] or 540-265-5650. For video speech samples and moreinformation, visit http://www.stuttering.org.
SOURCE Hollins Communications Research Institute
