The Neuroscience of Stammering
Tuesday 27th August 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
This lecture will provide brief revision of neuroscience generally, and use this knowledge to develop an understanding of why we stammer.
Michel will demystify neuroscience and take you beyond merely looking at colourful blobs and brainwaves. While the colourful blobs will certainly be there, much of the lecture will focus on understanding what they mean, and more importantly what they mean for brains that stammer and the people who have them.
Stammering is heritable, some people just have brains that work that way. When they speak sometimes they speak with hesitations, prolongations, or repetitions that they cannot control. The fact that their brains work differently is an excellent opportunity for us to learn more about how the brain controls speech. Stammering even has a special relationship with singing: it’s hard to stammer when you sing. We can learn a lot by trying to understand why!
People who stammer sometimes find it inconvenient and they may try to reduce their stammering with speech therapy. Sometimes the therapies even work. However, much more often they find the way that people treat them because of their stammer is a bigger problem. There is growing discussion that they probably should not have to have speech therapy is they don’t want it. It may be a kinder society that simply accepts them as they are and accommodates stammering as a form of disability. We will discuss these contemporary social issues as well as their practical implications for the lives of people who stammer.
Dr Michel Belyk
Dr Michel Belyk is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Edge Hill University. He studies the human voice, all the things that it says, and how it is able to say them.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Wednesday 7th May 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 14th May 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 21st May 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 28th May 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 4th June 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Advanced Certificate in Accents and Phonetics for Coaching Actors
Louisa Morgan
12 week course! Sharpen your coaching skills, discover new tools, and learn how to connect more deeply with your clients in our advanced certificate in accents and phonetics for coaching actors. The course provides an in-depth look at some of the key fundamental aspects of coaching accents, like phonetics and prosody, as well as introducing some theory and practice-based concepts relating to the complexities of this field, such as coaching for neurodiverse performers, English as an additional language (EAL) speakers and identity politics.
Monday 2nd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 9th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 16th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 23rd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Monday 30th June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Certificate in Foundations of Vocology with Adam Roberts
Adam Roberts
This fifteen week (30-hour) Vocology Cohort Intensive provides a comprehensive overview of basic vocal anatomy, physiology, and theories of voice production & perception, fundamentals of vocal health, pathology, evaluation, performance, and habilitation of the speaking and singing voice, and a survey of research, resources, and professional opportunities.
Tuesday 3rd June 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
THE MUSICAL BREATH : Singing for Lung Health – 2007-2025
Phoene Cave
This presentation will offer an overview of Singing for Lung Health in the UK and how it has developed over the past 17 years. Phoene Cave started the work at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in London and has gone on to train 320+ facilitators globally. Her personal experience is at hospital bedside with individuals and with groups of outpatients. The session will appeal to singing teachers, community choir leaders, respiratory nurse specialists, as well as allied health professionals (e.g. music therapists, respiratory physiotherapists and occupational therapists) and anyone challenged with breathlessness.