In collaboration with a research team from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders (NIDCD), Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) recently published a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the institute’s 12-day, behavioral therapy among a group of stutterers who possess one or more of the mutant genes for stuttering compared to the outcomes of a group of stutterers who do not carry any of the mutant genes. The abstract is presented below. Purpose We sought to determine whether outcomes of therapy for persistent developmental stuttering differ in indiv ..read more

Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., HCRI Founder and President Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) recently achieved the nonprofit’s 50-year milestone. Founded by Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., HCRI is a  leader in stuttering research, treatment innovation, and the delivery of effective, science-based stuttering therapy. During the past five decades, Dr. Webster and his team have conducted breakthrough research — and pioneered advancements in the understanding and treatment of stuttering. Thousands of individuals who stutter have come to HCRI’s Virginia treatment center for stuttering ..read more

Following is an overview of Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) that includes facts about HCRI, as well as accomplishments by this stuttering research and therapy innovator.   The Beginning Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D., HCRI President and Founder Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) was founded by Ronald L. Webster, Ph.D. in 1972 to investigate stuttering from a scientific perspective and develop new therapy approaches. Since that time, Roanoke, Virginia-based HCRI, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, has become a recognized leader in stuttering research and tre ..read more

The Transforming Impact of HCRI Stuttering Therapy: Opening the Door to Hope and Opportunity Business executive and retail owner Michael Shaw stuttered since he was a child. He endured bullying and teasing throughout his school years and only spoke when necessary because of his stutter. His speech caused immense fear and eroded his confidence. He recalls a low point in his young life when he made it to the finals in a school spelling bee, but had to drop out because he couldn’t get the word to come out of his mouth. Michael Shaw “I’ll never forget, when I was a teen, calling a girl to ask her ..read more

At Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI), we receive calls everyday from persons who stutter – and want to attend our 12-day therapy program. They know the transforming impact fluency can have on their lives. Yet, many have financial challenges that hold them back from attending therapy. That’s why we started the HCRI Therapy Scholarship Fund a number of years ago. The scholarship fund is fully supported by past HCRI participants and friends who understand how fluency can change an individual’s trajectory in life. By participating in HCRI therapy, persons who stutter learn lifelong ..read more

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!   HCRI’s stuttering therapy institute is located in Roanoke, Virginia. Thanks to the generosity of several of HCRI’s past stuttering therapy participants, the nonprofit institute is able to provide a special tuition reduction of $500 to individuals who participate in one of HCRI’s 12-day programs by the end of 2022. The financial gifts from these HCRI alumni reduce the therapy fee for HCRI’s 12-day immersion program from $4,285 to $3,785. Therapy includes 100 hours of intensive stuttering treatment and evaluation, as well as a comprehensive package of post-thera ..read more