SpeechEasy on 20/20 Friday.

[EddieO]

I got this email this morning.


SpeechEasy personally invites you to tune into ABC on Friday night at 9pm EST.

On Friday, March 7th (9pm EST), ABC News' 20/20 will air a special report called Medical Mysteries with a feature on stuttering. It will broadcast nationwide on most ABC stations. The report will show the before and after effects of the SpeechEasy fluency device. Over the last seven years, SpeechEasy devices have been proven effective for thousands of people who stutter, including Rebecca Glass featured in Friday's segment.

"We are excited that through this report, the nation will be introduced to the SpeechEasy device and to the positive effects that it can have on the lives of people who stutter" said Alan Newton, president of Janus Development Group, makers of SpeechEasy. "You will see that, coupled with the expertise of a certified SpeechEasy Speech Language Pathologist, clients such as Rebecca Glass can achieve amazing results with the device."

For more information on SpeechEasy, visit us online at www.SpeechEasy.com or call at 877-4-FLUENCY.

Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone who you feel may be interested.

[Adrian]

I got this email this morning.


SpeechEasy personally invites you to tune into ABC on Friday night at 9pm EST.

On Friday, March 7th (9pm EST), ABC News' 20/20 will air a special report called Medical Mysteries with a feature on stuttering. It will broadcast nationwide on most ABC stations. The report will show the before and after effects of the SpeechEasy fluency device. Over the last seven years, SpeechEasy devices have been proven effective for thousands of people who stutter, including Rebecca Glass featured in Friday's segment.

"We are excited that through this report, the nation will be introduced to the SpeechEasy device and to the positive effects that it can have on the lives of people who stutter" said Alan Newton, president of Janus Development Group, makers of SpeechEasy. "You will see that, coupled with the expertise of a certified SpeechEasy Speech Language Pathologist, clients such as Rebecca Glass can achieve amazing results with the device."

For more information on SpeechEasy, visit us online at www.SpeechEasy.com or call at 877-4-FLUENCY.

Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone who you feel may be interested.

I hope this is not one of those "miracle cure" reports. Speecheasy is a fine tool that some people find helpful, but these reports often leave out some of the negative sides of the device, i.e. background noise, habituation, etc.

[Roley]

There's one man on this site who swears by the SpeechEasy. I don't remember anyone else who has had success with this VERY expensive device.

[happy7117]

I am very leery about watching this special on 20/20 about the Speecheasy. I am guessing this thing will probably be advertized as a cure all for stutterers or a "pop in the ear" ear to end stuttering.

There was a show called 3 Wishes on about 3 yrs ago and a story about the Speecheasy was on it.

A young man wanted his wish of speaking without stuttering. The Speecheasy granted that wish.

It was a cruel advertisement for the device. The show advertised the Speecheasy as something to end all stutterings. And of course it worked for this guy.

The problem was because the Speeheasy worked for him, we all got suckered into believing the device would work for us.

The Speecheasy does not work for everyone as I have read throughout forum posts.

I am afraid this 20/20 special that airs tomarrow night will just be another decietfull advertisement for the Speecheasy like the special on 3 Wishes was.

No doubt the person or persons shown on 20/20 will be speaking fluently from the Speecheasy.

I imagine the Speecheasy will be shown ONLY on those that it works for to give viewers the hope that it will help them.

I hate these negative false advertisings that gives us false hopes and dreams of ridding the stuttering.

They want our money, and will do anything to get us to blow our money on something that may not work.

I am watching cautiously tomarrow night.

I frankly wish that these false advertisements that show the Speecheasy curing people would be pulled. It is not like that in real life where a device flicks a fluent switch on people.

The segment on Oprah dealing with the Speecheasy was very misleading as well.

[Roley]

Is it time for us to send e-mails to 20/20? The e-mails won't do any good before the show airs, since I'm sure it was taped weeks ago. But maybe our comments would help the world see the other side of the story. In other words, maybe part some of our e-mails will be reported the next time 20/20 airs. I'll try to find an e-mail address today and pass it on to you.

[Roley]

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2779439&page1

This is the Internet site for the 20/20 SpeechEasy story. The site lets you comment on the story. I just did, and referred viewers to this forum for candid comments.

BE SURE TO REGISTER FOR THE ABILITY TO MAKE COMMENTS FIRST BEFORE MAKING YOUR COMMENT. OTHERWISE YOU'LL HAVE TO RE-ENTER YOUR COMMENTS, AS I HAD TO.

[EddieO]

Like said before, Speecheasy is helping a man on this board. If I remember correctly he is 64 years old and had this device for several years and he is stutter free.
I don't think we should be getting on 20/20 about the story. If this helps somebody that is watching the show then that's an accomplishment.
That's what this board is about anyway. Helping each other.
Eddie

[Roley]

I merely said that viewers should be aware that the SpeechEasy may not work. And they should be. I realize one of our members swears by the SpeechEasy. I'm thrilled for him that the SpeechEasy is his blessing.

[nate]

I am very leery about watching this special on 20/20 about the Speecheasy. I am guessing this thing will probably be advertized as a cure all for stutterers or a "pop in the ear" ear to end stuttering.

There was a show called 3 Wishes on about 3 yrs ago and a story about the Speecheasy was on it.

A young man wanted his wish of speaking without stuttering. The Speecheasy granted that wish.

It was a cruel advertisement for the device. The show advertised the Speecheasy as something to end all stutterings. And of course it worked for this guy.

The problem was because the Speeheasy worked for him, we all got suckered into believing the device would work for us.

The Speecheasy does not work for everyone as I have read throughout forum posts.

I am afraid this 20/20 special that airs tomarrow night will just be another decietfull advertisement for the Speecheasy like the special on 3 Wishes was.

No doubt the person or persons shown on 20/20 will be speaking fluently from the Speecheasy.

I imagine the Speecheasy will be shown ONLY on those that it works for to give viewers the hope that it will help them.

I hate these negative false advertisings that gives us false hopes and dreams of ridding the stuttering.

They want our money, and will do anything to get us to blow our money on something that may not work.

I am watching cautiously tomarrow night.

I frankly wish that these false advertisements that show the Speecheasy curing people would be pulled. It is not like that in real life where a device flicks a fluent switch on people.

The segment on Oprah dealing with the Speecheasy was very misleading as well.

I u-tubed speecheasy and if I am right its a little masking device that u put in your ear and somehow causes u to b fluent by alterations of auditory feedback resulting in 80-90% stuttering reduction in 70-80% of the stuttering population.

How is this a false advertisement?
Sorry i am a little sleptaite-slow on the uptake:D
Nate

[Adrian]

I merely said that viewers should be aware that the SpeechEasy may not work. And they should be. I realize one of our members swears by the SpeechEasy. I'm thrilled for him that the SpeechEasy is his blessing.

I agree. Speecheasy also has a reputation for losing it's effectiveness after a few weeks or months. It may not happen to everyone, but it apparently does happen often and is never mentioned in these programs. These programs tend to show someone instantly become fluent, but do not follow up to check if it is working long term.

[happy7117]

I u-tubed speecheasy and if I am right its a little masking device that u put in your ear and somehow causes u to b fluent by alterations of auditory feedback resulting in 80-90% stuttering reduction in 70-80% of the stuttering population.

How is this a false advertisement?
Sorry i am a little sleptaite-slow on the uptake:D
Nate

I just mean that the Speecheasy is advertised as though as it is the answer for all stutterers to end all stutterer's stuttering.

The Speecheasy is NOT the answer for al stutterer's stuttering.

And that's what the advertisement leads us to believe-it leads us to believe that this will end our stuttering problems.

But they fail to show us that this device can fail on those that it does not work for.

I am greatfull for that man on here who loves the S.E because he has found the device just right for him that works.

Different devices are for different people. Not one device works for all stutterers. Takes practice and trial and error for stutterers to find that right device.

[happy7117]

These adverts on the Speecheasy fail to show that the device may not work on everyone.

They only show instant success on people.

They need to show that the device does not work on all stutterers.

The ads need to show a person or persons that the Speecheasy DOES NOT work for, as well as a person or persons that the Speecheasy DOES work for.

They need to say that the Speecheasy MIGHT work for you or might not.

They need to say if the Speecheasy does not work to keep on trying out devices to find the one that works best for you and your own kind of stutterings.

[Jaked85]

Watched it earlier tonight, after the story, the host, who mentioned that he also has a stutter and that people should be careful, for the results tend to fade away, or something along those lines. He talked about his stutter for a bit too, which was interesting.

[emily445455]

I thought it was a very interesting show :)

Does the hose guy really stutter, or did they just add that to give him credability?

[Roley]

John Stossel (the host) of the program is a stutterer. He has gone the HCRI program; HCRI uses him on their Internet site for a testimonial. How severe was Stossel's stutter? It must not have been severe at all, otherwise he wouldn't be on network TV.

[happy7117]

I too watched it. I don't know why but I think I remember seeing the piece before.

I don't know why, but I think that same piece on the Speecheasy was on before on maybe a different show.

Because I remember seeing Rebecaa Glass-the girl who was fitted- before on maybe a similar show.

She spoke awesomely with that Speecheasy in!! So glad for her, and let's hope it still holds up for her.

But I was wary that what we watched can be indeed very misleading.

It helped her superbly speak easier, but some or most may not be as fortunate.

I saw sort of a preview of the segment of the Speecheasy on 20/20's website yesterday.

[Adrian]

John Stossel (the host) of the program is a stutterer. He has gone the HCRI program; HCRI uses him on their Internet site for a testimonial. How severe was Stossel's stutter? It must not have been severe at all, otherwise he wouldn't be on network TV.

Yeah, Stossel was a TV reporter before he did the HCRI therapy. Not sure how that is relevant to those of us who stutter severely. Virtually every therapy program or device will help some tiny number of people, but that does not make it relevant to the rest of us.

[Adrian]

Watched it earlier tonight, after the story, the host, who mentioned that he also has a stutter and that people should be careful, for the results tend to fade away

I did not watch the report, but that is good to hear. Too often this point is ignored.

[EddieO]

Either that girl or another girl was on the Sally Jesse Raphael shows years ago. It must have been another girl. Pretty interesting though.
Here's a link that should help other people watch some video clips.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2779439&page=1

In the link there is a guy that posted a comment about some medication that has made him 99% fluent of stuttering. He said that he is asking permission to post the name of the medicine on their website. Certainly the information won't be free will it. :rolleyes:

Anyway I would like to try the speecheasy device but man it's expensive. Making monthly payments on something else isn't to good either.
Eddie

[Bill Hargis]

I am the above mentioned man who swears by the speecheasy. It was godsend for me but I did notice that I could become accustomed to that noise in my ear and begin to stutter again. You merely have change the volume or pitch. The background noise is a small price to pay for fluency after having been a severe stutterer for 62 years. After wearing it for a year I am mostly fluent without it. I carry it for use in certain situations like ordering at a drive up. The 4000 bucks is also a small price for fluency. The patent will run out. and several companies will be producing the se. There is only a ten year window for an inventor to recoup their r&d expenses

[Adrian]

I am the above mentioned man who swears by the speecheasy. It was godsend for me but I did notice that I could become accustomed to that noise in my ear and begin to stutter again. You merely have change the volume or pitch. The background noise is a small price to pay for fluency after having been a severe stutterer for 62 years. After wearing it for a year I am mostly fluent without it. I carry it for use in certain situations like ordering at a drive up. The 4000 bucks is also a small price for fluency. The patent will run out. and several companies will be producing the se. There is only a ten year window for an inventor to recoup their r&d expenses

Bill, Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your posts being about your experiences and not suggesting everyone should get a Speecheasy. Interesting about the patent. It will be nice if the Speecheasy price comes down considerably. As of now, it is a $5000 gamble (it may work long term and it may not).

Also, there are a number of websites where we can download the same type of software to our PCs and Pocket PCs. I have heard there is software now for cellphones too, but I am not sure where. This may be a better place for people to start who are interested in DAF/FAF.

[happy7117]

I am the above mentioned man who swears by the speecheasy. It was godsend for me but I did notice that I could become accustomed to that noise in my ear and begin to stutter again. You merely have change the volume or pitch. The background noise is a small price to pay for fluency after having been a severe stutterer for 62 years. After wearing it for a year I am mostly fluent without it. I carry it for use in certain situations like ordering at a drive up. The 4000 bucks is also a small price for fluency. The patent will run out. and several companies will be producing the se. There is only a ten year window for an inventor to recoup their r&d expenses

Not all of us are rich to be able to afford a $5,000 device to be able to save our stuttering.

So it is not a small price to pay because many like me may not be able to afford it.

It must be great being able to afford something that so many may not be able to, especialy when someone's stuttering is so terrible that all they can depend on is a device to help them.

Be greatfull you were able to afford that Speecheasy, because many of us cannot afford it, and many live through hell because we cannot afford a speecheasy.

I would do anything to be in your position Bill as many of us I am sure would. To have a device that works for the person and that keeps working.

And to have the money to afford it. Must be nice:) :mad:

Happy for you, but mad for the fact you are having mucho success with the SE that so many would give their left arm for. Including me.

For the $5000, we can't afford that price so we go through hell not being able to do anything about the problem.

There is no such thing as free treatment or free devices:mad: :mad:

[Chad]

I have been wondering about getting a SE for a long time. I think I'm gonna go for it.

The price is high, of course, but if it works, who cares about money. I always have said I would give just about anything to be fluent.

Besides, there's a 90 day money back guarantee (minus 10%). If what some people say is true, and the effects wear off in a few weeks, then I am willing to pay 10% of $5k to finally stop wondering if this thing will work for me.

Stay tuned...

[happy7117]

The price is high, of course, but if it works, who cares about money. I always have said I would give just about anything to be fluent

I feel the same way that money is not an object when it comes to doing anything to help my stuttering.

But realising that if we don't have the money to buy what we so desperately need, it does become an object.

In a way, I don't give a dam how much a device costs, but then again not having the money prevents me from getting it.

Looks like I need a loan to get the money to be able to get something like the speecheasy..

[andrewg818]

Happy-- The SpeechEasy technology can be downloaded from various locations online for less than $100--from there, you can use it on a smaller device --or at least experiment w/ the effect at home.
Have you tried practicing saying the first syllable as though it were the only one you were going to say--and then saying the rest of the sentence as an afterthought? [in a low stress/"easy" setting]? Combining that WITH a device like the SE or FE or FM-- is powerful, to say the least. [Be careful not to say that first syllable ABRUPTLY/harsh---and not to begin saying the second word/syllable until you've completely articulated the first one]

[Leys Geddes]

They can be very useful and, providing you can contol your hopes of being 'cured' it's worth trying one. A big problem, however, is that most of the coverage about stuttering gained in the media revolves around someone's apparent 'cure'. This means that the folks at home get the impression that stuttering can be cured and so it is no problem. There is virtually no coverage of the difficulties we encounter, because stuttering does not make good TV or radio, so our condition is virtually invisible in the increasingly influential media world. To make matters worse, most of us are not keen to tell the world how it really is! I stutter significantly, but I have managed to get on BBC national radio in the UK and that was at least partly because the programme makers realised that stuttering deserved some coverage and that simply having someone on air who stuttered was remarkable in itself. It made them look pretty good and, although I certainly stuttered, I hope it made people realise that I was a sensible, normal person who knew exactly what I wanted to say, but simply had difficulty in saying it.

[Grandma5]

This device is NOT new. I was at HCRI in the 90's and this device was introduced to us. We only used it for about 1/2 hour during the whole program and was not marketable at that time. No, I will not spend 4000.00 on it. OF the 6 people who attended HCRI when I did none were fluent at the end of the program. Better yes but it did not last. I felt cheated because when they sent me the video about the program they (according to them showed several people who went though the program) all now stutter free. When I left the program I asked for just one address of a person on the video ( I did not care who) so I could talk with them and their answer was "We do not know where any of them are now". I find this very hard to believe!!!! I hope and pray the Speecheasy will help some people but I wonder is the market just trying to get our money. I hope not. Grandma5

[Adrian]

This device is NOT new. I was at HCRI in the 90's and this device was introduced to us. We only used it for about 1/2 hour during the whole program and was not marketable at that time. No, I will not spend 4000.00 on it. OF the 6 people who attended HCRI when I did none were fluent at the end of the program. Better yes but it did not last. I felt cheated because when they sent me the video about the program they (according to them showed several people who went though the program) all now stutter free. When I left the program I asked for just one address of a person on the video ( I did not care who) so I could talk with them and their answer was "We do not know where any of them are now". I find this very hard to believe!!!! I hope and pray the Speecheasy will help some people but I wonder is the market just trying to get our money. I hope not. Grandma5

Grandma, Welcome! You are in good company, we have quite a few Hollins flunkies here (myself included). There is a recent discussion on Hollins that you might find interesting.

Adrian

[Grandma5]

Thanks for the encourgement. I'm glad to know I am not the only flunky. I really just don't think HCRI is really on to the problem. Have you ever thought what the death age rate is for stutterers since stress plays such a great role as far as health is concerned. I think this would make a great thread to discuss. Blessings, Grandma5

[Chad]

Have you ever thought what the death age rate is for stutterers since stress plays such a great role as far as health is concerned. I think this would make a great thread to discuss. Blessings, Grandma5
Wow, hadn't thought of that. Good question.

New thread, anyone?

[mo885]

here is the link to the episode of 20/20 about stuttering if anyone wants to see it- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3c8zcOfcY8