We should be ashamed as US leads way in speech therapy

As someone who both spent my childhood in the Republic and who is a PWS (person who stammers), I was absolutely shocked to read the opinion piece “Collecting on the streets for child’s speech, language service” (Aug 24) by Maura Adshead.

That she would have to raise funds on the streets for her child’s speech therapy is a definite black eye to the Republic of Ireland.

I have always said that every country in the world has to spend more money and devote more attention to the various speech problems faced by children. Ireland is no exception. What is ironic is that the Republic has such a great reputation throughout the world for its government-subsidised healthcare system. People here in the US cite the Irish healthcare system as a perfect role model. In fact, I know someone in the Republic who spent ten months in the hospital in 1991 and his out-of-pocket payment was the equivalent of slightly more than $300.

On the other hand, the whole world thinks that the healthcare system in the US is a poor one and a total mess. However, there was federal legislation in 1972 that gives every child in the US the right to free speech therapy, which can begin at age three and run throughout high school.

This amazing benefit of free therapy covers all speech problems. In this regard, the US has the best policy in the world for helping children with speech problems.

I hope that Ms Adshead’s piece is a wake-up call to the Irish Government for the need for better access to speech therapy for children.

Stammering is a common problem, and I recommend the website of The Stuttering Foundation (www.stammeringhelp.org) as it has many free resources that can be used by people who stammer anywhere.

The site also has an international listing of qualified speech therapists, which is a good place to start for any speech problem.

Colm F Ruane

Bronx

New York

United States