Action for Stammering Children (ASC)

Stammering is a severe communication disability which impairs social, emotional and educational development. Estimates suggest that 5% of children will stammer at some point and approximately 1% continue to stammer into adulthood. Stammering is 3 to 4 times more common in boys than in girls. While stammering is outwardly characterised by repetitions, prolongations and blocking of sounds, these core behaviours can be accompanied by feelings of isolation, frustration and embarrassment.

Stammering crosses all races, cultures, religions and social groupings, conceals intellectual ability, affects educational choices and achievement, results in impaired communication skills and frequently becomes a focus for teasing and bullying. In severe cases, it may play a significant part in a young person's ability to achieve their potential and to make a full contribution to society as an adult.

At the core of our work is the specialist assessment service which is funded by the charity and provided free of charge for any child or young person in the UK, aged 2-18, who stammers. Both parents attend with their child where possible, so that the stammering problem can be fully assessed in the context of each individual family. Families are seen by two specialist therapists who spend a morning or afternoon with the child and their parents during which they can identify and fully understand the factors underlying the child's stammer.

The assessment has been developed and refined over the last 20 years, is the cornerstone of each child's subsequent therapy and greatly increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.