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From: Klaas Bakker, Missouri State University
Date: 21 Oct 2008
Time: 14:23:15 -0500
Remote Name: 146.7.150.9
Rick, I believe the situation is more complex even than you describe in your question. While certain strands of evidence are getting more supportive of a neurological explanation for stuttering over the years, there are definitely also facts that suggest that this could not be the entire truth. For example (just one example), what is neurogenic about stuttering should already be there when children begin to speak and we know that at this age there is very little. So there have to be multiple other explanations for which the problem can develop into something very different later in life, or ... just go away. Also, if a neurogenic predisposition for the development of stuttering is supported, there is still the question which aspects of the problems of a PWS exactly is neurogenic in predisposition? Fully mature stuttering is very complex, and much of it is likely not neurogenic in nature. No one at this time can predict when the evidence will be sufficient to prove (of support) the neurogenic hypothesis. Even if that would happen there is still also a good amount of possible interaction with hereditary factors. These are reasons why I believe the neurogenic hypothesis, no matter how feasible, is only a part of the picture.