Research shows that: Around 5–8% of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a true developmental stutter — much higher than the ~1% seen in the general population. Conversely, a small portion of people who stutter (PWS) show autistic traits — especially in areas of sensory sensitivity, anxiety, and social communication style. So while they’re distinct conditions, they can co-occur and interact in ways that intensify fluency challenges.