Is this website a scam? "Fluency Master"?

Question

stutteringcontrol.com

My brother has a bad stuttering problem, has ever since he began to talk and know hes 20. My friends mom found about this thing called the fluency master and was planning on buying it for him.

But I have a few questions a red flags.

#1 They want my mom to pay 3900 through Paypal, which is a ***** about fraudulent charges, and only covers up to 2000 if you do get scammed, and if you pay and the seller empties their bank account, well you're screwed.

#2 You're supposed to go to a specch patheologists to try it out, but they requested CASH ONLY, which leaves no paper trail whatsoever.

# 3 I googled the Doctors name and nothing came up on him.

# 4 The 2 doctors that my mom got a recommendation from and the audiologists who did the ear mold have never heard of the fluency master. We saw a video on VHS that was made in the 1980's and their website looks like it was made in the 1980's, yet 2 docters and an audiologists have never heard of it?

So, I mean, I would for my brother to have this, it would really improve his life, but I dont want my mom to get scammed for $4500.

So whats your opinion?

Answer 1

I have heard of the fluency master, but there are a few things I want to warn you about. It is based on the idea that delayed auditory feedback can make a person who stutters fluent. I think it is an awful lot of money to spend on something that may or may not work for your brother. I am a speech-language pathologist, and I am wary of a device that is so expensive and claims to make people fluent with "one stop shopping." While I am sure this device works for some, it may not work for your brother. If the device breaks, then your brother would still stutter. He would have to wear it all the time in order to be effective. I would talk to your brother's speech-language pathologist to discuss whether or not it may be a good option for him. Also, your speech-language pathologist may be able to provide fluency strategies for your brother so that he may not have to depend on a device (only himself) to be fluent. Do more research and talk to his SLP. Good luck!

Answer 2

When I bought the Fluency Master device it cost $2500 in 2000 9my rent was a lot lower as well) and it absolutely helped me change my speech which had become very severe. There is a lot of hostility directed at this device which should be used with therapy and is likely not a match for everyone. In 2000 after I received the device working with my therapist everyone I knew commented on my speech (many for the first time) because of the improvement. The person in charge of the Fluency Master tried to get me reimbursed by the state of California and spoke with the social worker for the state handling my disability plan to go back to college ( I was in car verse bicycle accident that left me disabled and very stressed out which affected my long standing speech disorder) was really aggressively against this device despite the fact he knew nothing about stuttering. There are very odd schools of thought regarding therapy and this kind of petty, my way or no way or cheap gimmick verse "real" therapy that holds some of us (stutters) back from improving. I have a degree in political science and am a lot more streetwise than the vast majority of people, I'm not humble, I'm honest. I was allowed to test out the device with my therapist but I cannot say what is going on now. It changed my life, I still have it and may in fact lend it out which is why after all these years I have looked it up. I frankly don't care if I stutter and no one else does. I'm confident, a great salesman and not afraid to speak my mind in front of a crowd.

Answer 3

No, don't spend the money on anything that is not returnable if it doesn't work. Everything we buy should have a guarantee and be fully refundable. Plus, these electronic gadgets do not help everyone who stutters. There are some who become more fluent while using them, but they don't work for everyone. I come from a family of stutterers, and we found that the most dependable professional answers to all our questions came from the Stuttering Foundation, a nonprofit group that is there solely to help those who stutter - it is not there to make money off of anyone. It was started by a man who stuttered 60 years ago. His book, "Self Therapy for the Stutterer" is what made my uncles and cousins mostly stutter free, with only occasional relapses under stress. There is no "cure" for stuttering. Each stutterer needs to work through the steps in the book diligently and practice, practice, practice according to my family members who stutter. Spending money on any device that, if it works for you, will only work while you are wearing it is not near as fulfilling as working on techniques to overcome the stuttering and be able to control it yourself. We have heard several stutterers say they were suckered out of good hard-earned money that didn't help them a bit. Don't let it happen to you.

Answer 4

Here's a link that discusses devices like the Fluency Master. I am familiar with the Edinburgh Masker which is a similar device. It doesn't sound like a complete scam, but it does sound like results are mixed. Some folks like these devices, others find them difficult to use in real life situations. Before your mom throws down that kind of money, I would look around locally to see if your brother could 'test drive' a device like this. That way you would have a better idea if it would work for him. I think you are very smart to be sceptically of things that offer cures and other quick fixes for lots of money!

Answer 5

1: Personally, I'd do a LOT MORE research before spending $3900.
2: If you're already working with a speech pathologist; he/she will have an excellent professional opinion you should honor.
3: That would raise my eyebrows.

Check out the two sources I quote. I believe that studying the site for National Association for Speech Fluency will be very informative for you.

Answer 6

There is no cure for stuttering but you can learn to control it with the right help. I wouldn't put my money into any gimmick, especially one that costs that much and may not help at all. Your best bet is to find a speech therapist who specializes in treating stuttering or if you are determined enough, work through "Self Therapy for the Stutterer" a book that is at my library.

Answer 7

Don't know if it is considered a scam or not, but it didn't work for a friend who bought it and he couldn't return it and didn't get his money back. He got help from a speech therapist that he found on the Stuttering Foundation's web site.

Answer 8

Yea, there are too many red flags. You guys should do a little more research before considering spending all that. :) Hope you find something that helps! -After reading tattomeat's comment below mine, The better business bureau does do some internet sites. If you guys are really interested, you should contact this company and ask them if they are a part of the Better Business Bureau.