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Like many in our discipline, we have been intrigued and alarmed at the remarkable amount of publicity that has been given to a stuttering treatment device known as the SpeechEasy™. Our experience is no doubt similar to many in our field who have an interest in the efficacy of stuttering treatment: numerous e-mails and phone calls from individuals asking our opinion regarding the clinical value of this device. The simple and straightforward fact is that, despite seemingly persuasive displays of its effectiveness on television, such exhibitions do not qualify as evidence of the clinical value of this device. There is not a single peer-reviewed, published clinical research study demonstrating that this device produces sustained and satisfactory improvements in fluency—and for what percentage and age range of people who stutter—let alone that it produces benefits that are retained following extended use.
It is of interest to note that the Web site of the manufacturers of the device admits that, as yet, there are no data available from clinical trials that demonstrate the benefits of this device. The site offers the disturbing excuse that this is because the "inventors and producers were reluctant to further delay the availability of SpeechEasy™ for people who want to realize the benefits now." Such enthusiasm for a medical device—selling it before thoroughly testing it—teeters on the brink of unprofessionalism.
Roger J. Ingham
Janis M. Ingham
Santa Barbara, CA
rjingham@speech.ucsb.edu
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