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From: Ken St. Louis
Date: 10/22/03
Time: 12:38:57 PM
Remote Name: 157.182.13.3
Yes, we are quite sure that stuttering has a significant genetic component. There is absolutely no doubt that stuttering runs in families, like yours. Nevertheless, genetic influences are not the only cause of stuttering; there are environmental influences as well.
Every few years we hear that the stuttering gene or genes are about to be described. To my knowledge, this has not yet occurred, and I would be surprised if we locate one specific genetic pattern that is responsible for all stuttering.
A few studies (mostly pretty old) suggest that stuttering is correlated with various disease and birth conditions, but the weight of the evidence from carefully controlled studies seems to suggest that stutterers are no more prone to such things as anoxia as nonstutterers.
Best wishes,
Ken