[xtypo_dropcap]K[/xtypo_dropcap]ing George VI of England had an innovative, caring therapist to help him overcome his stutter. He did not have an iPhone app. But if he were alive today, he could get one.
Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI), a stuttering clinic in Roanoke, Va., says it is releasing an app to help stutterers.
The technology is meant to help people retain the skills they learn in HCRI’s intensive, 12-day stuttering-treatment program. During the program, “participants learn how to replace faulty muscle contractions that cause stuttering with new muscle behaviors that generate fluent speech,” according to a statement from HCRI.
The app, which runs on iPhones, the iTouch, and iPads, records speech and displays a measurement of its fluency. It also transmits speech samples to the clinic so that therapists can continue to help clients who are no longer on campus.
“We developed the stuttering therapy app to help program participants more easily transfer skills learned in the clinical setting to real world environments,” said HCRI Founder and President Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., in a news release.
“Along with being an excellent tool in the context of therapy, the app helps clients stay on track with their new fluency capabilities once they return home.”
Webster started the clinic in 1972. It is affiliated with Hollins University, recently named among the top 10 in the nation for quality of faculty. The non-profit clinic has served over 6,000 people from 78 countries. Those who have used the clinic can contact the clinic to get instructions for downloading and operating the stuttering app.
