This study investigated beliefs and perceptions parents have regarding their young child’s stammering and
their views and experiences of therapy. It is known that parents are often anxious about their child’s stammering
(e.g. Langevin, Packman and Onslow, 2010) and that it can have an impact on family life. Parents are often
expected to have a role to play in therapy, yet there has been little in terms of large-scale research seeking more
about parental experiences of having a child who stammers. An on-line survey was devised and sent out to
parents via the British Stammering Association (BSA). Recruitment to the study was broad to encourage parents
from a variety of backgrounds to the complete the survey, and to try to access parents who may not have had
any professional advice or therapy. The questionnaire was developed from themes emerging from parent studies
using qualitative methodology (e.g. Glogowska and Campbell, 2000; Goodhue, Onslow, Quine, O’Brian and
Hearne, 2010; Hayhow, 2009; Plexico and Burrus, 2012;) with questions categorised into 6 main areas: beliefs
about causes of stammering, level of concern, information seeking, strategies used to support their child, views
of assessment and views of therapy. Quantitative and qualitative data from 69 parents of children who stammer
(aged 10 years and under) are reported. The results revealed that parents had high levels of concern about the
impact of stammering on their child; most did not know the causes of stammering or put it down to an
environmental cause; and they employed a range of strategies to support their child. Most parents sought out
speech and language therapy, but many experienced difficulties in accessing this support. Their experiences of
therapy highlighted how important therapy was for the parent as much as for the child and that the support
should come from a suitably trained and experienced specialist therapist.