The word is out Like singer Gareth Gates, Danny Rhodes and Martin

10
Daily Echo, TUESDAY JANUARY 1, 2008
bournemouthecho.co.uk
The word
is out
Like singer Gareth
Gates, Danny Rhodes
and Martin Coombs
suffer from stammering,
but help is at hand...
By Georgina Crawshaw
georgina.crawshaw@bournemouthecho.co.uk
INGING sensation,
Gareth Gates shot to
fame in 2002 when he
came second in the first
series of reality TV show Pop
Idol. Since then he has sold 3.5
million singles and albums in
the UK alone and is the
youngest solo male artist to
have four number ones. But perhaps his greatest achievement is
overcoming the severe stammer
he has suffered since childhood.
Like Gareth, Danny Rhodes, a
semi-finalist on ITV’s search for
a West End star, Grease Is The
Word, also has a speech impediment. And just like the poptastic
pin-up his stammer seems to
disappear when he sings.
“It’s odd,” Danny confides.
“But it’s always been like
that.”
In his day-to-day life, however,
Danny’s speech has posed more
of a problem.
“I always tried to avoid words
which were difficult – sometimes I’d even end up lying
because it was the easiest
option!”
Inspired by Gareth’s success,
the 22-year-old from Exeter
recently signed up to the
McGuire Programme, a strategy
which has revolutionised the
treatment of speech impediments. After completing a four
day course in Bournemouth
Danny says the McGuire
Programme has changed his
life.
“It was hard work, and it’s
harder now I’m home. But it’s
helped me endlessly, it really
has, and I’m extremely glad I
did it.
“I’m still having hassle with
S
IMPEDIMENTS: Danny Rhodes with Martin Coombs
Picture: Pat Timmons
odd words, but now it’s just a
case of exercising on my harder
sounds”
Run solely by recovering stammerers, the McGuire
Programme uses a technique
called coastal breathing, coupled
with concentration, assertiveness and non-avoidance training, to enable the student to con-
trol their stammer. It is by no
means a cure, as its founder
Dave McGuire emphasises, but
it’s had a profound impact on
many peoples’ lives.
Martin Coombs from
Bridgwater in Somerset attended his first course in
Bournemouth in 1998. Since
then he has become an instruc-
tor, coaching both Gareth and
Danny during their initial
inductions. He now sings, or
should that be speaks, the praises of the programme.
“It’s life changing.
“When you can’t relay your
feelings, thoughts and emotions
you spend your life in a shell
avoiding speaking. The McGuire
Programme opens up opportunities for people they never
thought they’d have – because
they’re in control of their speech
process. It feels like you’re getting a second chance at life.”
After trying numerous techniques during his teenage years
to improve his stammer, including conventional speech therapy, Martin had resigned himself
to the fact that stammering
would be part of his life forever.
“Fluent speakers think that
stammering is just a speech
problem but it isn’t – it becomes
the person. I didn’t give a speech
at my wedding and I couldn’t
say my daughter’s name at her
christening. That’s how life is
for a person who stammers –
full of incidences that cause
hurt and pain.”
But after witnessing a road
traffic accident ten years ago
Martin found new motivation to
overcome his disability.
“It took me nearly two minutes
to call the ambulance and that
was the final straw of many
straws.”
After enrolling on the McGuire
programme Martin realised, for
the first time in 40 years, there
was a light at the end of the tunnel.
A miracle method it might be
but it certainly isn’t a quick fix.
After the initial four day course
(incorporating some 64 hours of
intensive training) each student
is assigned a personal coach
Visit the Daily Echo website: bournemouthecho.co.uk
LIPS INC:
Gareth Gates on the
intensive McGuire
programme course
which helps
stammerers
Picture: Hattie Miles
who they are advised to call
every day for the first couple of
months. Graduates also become
lifelong members of the programme and are encouraged to
continue working on their
speech by attending local support groups and participating in
future courses.
Gareth Gates, a committed
coach himself, tries to attend
every course he can – not only
to improve his own technique
but also to support new students. Since his weekend
appearance at the Bournemouth
event him and Danny have
become good friends.
“I often talk to Gareth.” Danny
confides.
“He’s incredibly inspiring.”
Martin maintains that the programme works for everyone.
“But you must be prepared to
put in the time and effort.” He
emphasises.
“No two stammerers are the
same but the basic principles
are. We’re all individuals who
have learnt our own tricks and
avoidances. Some people
become covert, avoiding words
they know will give them problems, some start slapping their
leg on every syllable to overcome their speech problem. But
fundamentally it’s about breaking the bad habits of a lifetime
and replacing them with good
behaviours.”
“The goal of our programme
isn’t just to become a person
who doesn’t stammer anymore.
It’s to become a good, strong eloquent speaker.
“If you’re prepared to work
hard you can enjoy degrees of
fluency beyond your wildest
dreams.”
● For further information
on the McGuire programme
and courses in your area visit