How can I get help?

Local Speech & Language Therapy Services

It is important to make contact with your local speech and language therapy service as soon as possible to arrange an appointment for an assessment.

Most local NHS Services or Health Boards will have a speech and language therapy service. It should be possible to contact the manager and request information about their local team. Some Trusts have a 'direct access' policy which means you can refer your child directly to the local speech and language therapist. You could also call in at your local health centre to get the information you need about contacting your local speech and language therapist.

Your child's school may be able to help too. Some schools have speech and language therapists who visit on a regular basis, or the head teacher may have a contact telephone number.

GP or Health Visitor

These services will also have the information you need to find out about local speech and language therapy services. Your GP can also make a direct referral for you.

The Michael Palin Centre

It is important to make contact with your local speech and language therapy service first. They will make an appointment to see your child and make recommendations about the therapy options available locally. Many Trusts have speech and language therapists who specialise in working with children who stammer and you may be referred to that person.

The Michael Palin Centre is a specialist or 'tertiary' centre and children are referred to us by Speech and Language Therapists or by GPs from all over the UK. There is a free consultation service which offers a specialist assessment, advice and treatment recommendations for each family. Your local speech and language therapist will attend the appointment too.

As soon as we receive the referral, your child's name is put on a waiting list and you will receive information about the assessment. You can always telephone to check the waiting time for an appointment. The appointment letter will be sent out 6 weeks in advance to try to give sufficient time for you to organise your visit and for your local speech and language therapist to attend with you. This helps to make sure that our recommendations are made with knowledge of the local therapy options and resources.

Most families will then continue to have therapy near their home with a review appointment in approximately six months. However if our agreed recommendations are not available locally (e.g. an intensive group therapy course) we would discuss other possibilities, including therapy at the Michael Palin Centre. In this case NHS funding would be applied for and, if agreed, a course of therapy is arranged.

British Stammering Association

The BSA keeps a register of speech and language therapy services which outlines the availability of therapy for stammering. They also have an advice line, leaflets, pamphlets, books and videos containing a wealth of information. You can also see their website.