American Institute for Stuttering
About: The American Institute for Stuttering provides stuttering therapy in New York City. The “therapy broadly focuses on behavioral and cognitive management strategies related to stuttering specifically and communication in general. The delineated goals of the program include acceptance of one’s stuttering, elimination of avoidance behaviors, changes in affective and cognitive components of stuttering, development of stuttering modification and fluency shaping techniques, and provision of choices for continued speech management following treatment.”[ref] Pollard, Ryan. (2012) A Preliminary Report on Outcomes of the American Institute for Stuttering Intensive Therapy Program. doi: 10.1044/ffd22.1.5
Perspectives on Fluency and Fluency Disorders, May 2012 vol. 22 no. 1 5-15.[/ref]
Evidence: One clinical trial has been published about the American Institute for Stuttering. Five adult stutterers attended a 3-week, six hours per day therapy program. Stuttering was reduced 50-60%. On affective/cognitive measures (OASES and PSI) four of the five subjects had improved scores. Long-term follow-up data wasn’t included in the study.[ref] Pollard, Ryan. (2012) A Preliminary Report on Outcomes of the American Institute for Stuttering Intensive Therapy Program. doi: 10.1044/ffd22.1.5
Perspectives on Fluency and Fluency Disorders, May 2012 vol. 22 no. 1 5-15.[/ref]
Submit your review | |
If you’re wondering what adult therapy looks like at AIS, the live-streamed therapy here. It’s a great way to get a first hand look at their services: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nw3XkNhEpbc
I attended the American Institute for Stuttering approximately ten years ago. It has changed quite a bit since then. I went through an intensive stuttering course which utilized strategies to desensitize negative reactions to stuttering as well as promote fluency through vocal fold management. Myself, nor the other people I attended with (4 others) did not experience lasting gains in fluency and upon re-entering normal life, many of the anxieties associated with stuttering quickly returned. The staff was and is very well meaning and supportive of people who stutter. Their heart is in the right place. However, from what I've seen of their clients, fluency increases are usually not achieved. So, if this is one of your primary goals I would not recommend this organization. However, if you're looking to embrace your stutter, gain encouragement on your stuttering journey, and be taught some psychological tools to help you cope better with stuttering, this may be a good choice for you. A recently posted video of a client who has been working with AIS for five years is on youtube. She is happier with her stutter and life, however, fluency gains are absent. So, depending on your goals for your stuttering, you might consider this institution. However, I would suggest a thorough weighing of all the options out there.
After many years of trying to find a speech therapist who could help our son with his stuttering, we finally came upon AIS. When he was in 7th grade, we enrolled him in a two week intensive course after which his speech was markedly improved. In all the years of trying to find help for his speech, this was the only program that really helped. We had taken him to multiple speech therapists, beginning when he was about 5 years old, some of whom were very well meaning, but weren't able to offer much help. It's been eight years now since he's completed the program. I would say he had a 90% improvement in his speech initially, and today it remains about 80% better than before he enrolled in AIS.
