It's not actually a debate anymore, the scientific evidence is undisputed. Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means that from birth, the brain of a person who stutters is wired differently from a person without this predisposition. There are structural differences in the white tissue of the left and right motor cortex as well as functional differences in the conduction of impulses. Scientist call this phenomenon a “Hyperactive Action Inhibition Loop”. Very simply put: the brain receives a “stop” signal when there should be a “go” signal and the speech flow is interrupted. And stuttering is definitely hereditary: 60% of people who stutter have a relative who stutters. There is no stuttering gene but a combination of genes that contribute to being predisposed to stutter. This can’t be changed but even though there is no cure for stuttering, there are many behavioural therapy methods, used by Speech and Language Pathologists, that can help stutterers to manage their condition successfully and become confident communicators.