>*"This hypothesis is not proved beyond doubt as far as I understand."* Yes, I agree with everything you said! >*"This is because one of the most frustrating and painful aspects of stuttering, is the fact that most people tend to explain away stuttering as being caused by childhood trauma, a lack of confidence, insecurity, a bad habit etc. So you see, the explanation that Stuttering has a neurological cause was very helpful in countering these claims, while the possibility that it's neurological nature is a consequence rather than a cause, reinforces these beliefs which are rampant in society- beliefs which are damaging to the person who stutters because they make out Stuttering to be a flaw or an emotional issue, rather than a disorder or disability (which cannot be helped) in the eyes of other ppl (even if it's really not)."* Yes, I agree with everything you mentioned! In my view, what constitutes a major factor in this issue is that the definition of the primary core symptom of stuttering varies not only among people who stutter (PWS) but also among clinicians and even among researchers. What is the most core underlying cause of the disruption (or breakdown) of motor program initiation? Why exactly, at the very core, do you and me (and other people who stutter) inhibit speech movements or stop executing speech motor plans during a silent block? As you pointed out, some people report that the following factors affect their own unique stuttering: * cognitive, emotional or behavioral factors * confidence (or self-esteem) * insecurity * habitual responses (or habitual mechanisms, such as the Variable release threshold and monitoring-response mechanisms. Which in my opinion could negatively impact executive functions like inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility or shifting, and thus, negatively impact multitasking during speech production - see my research summaries: ([1](https://www.reddit.com/r/Stutter/comments/1anpdbu/cheatsheet_helpful_interventions_from_the/)) ([2](https://www.reddit.com/r/Stutter/comments/192govk/tips_to_improve_stuttering_from_the_research_the/)) ([3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Stutter/comments/18qxg2h/tips_to_improve_stuttering_according_to_the/))) * I can name a few more that I regularly see in posts on this subreddit: things like tension, stuttering anticipation, anticipation of negative listener responses, or the fact that they are not calmly breathing, and thus, they feel the need to rely on the expectation to first start breathing calmly to execute speech motor plans Like you, I also don't view these factors as the most core underlying cause of stuttering. Because, why would confidence affect a silent block? Why should we need confidence or less tension or less fear or calm breathing patterns - to initiate motor programs? If we would puzzle (or analyze) these main questions long enough, I think most people would then see that we actually don't need to rely on those factors because such overreliance on high expectations would only put high demand on the speech system, and thus, make us intolerant enough to be triggered by such factors (like anticipation). So, if it's true that those factors are not the most core underlying cause of stuttering. And if it's true that relying on those factors is actually what perpetuates stuttering (rather than resolve the breakdown problem of motor program initiation). Then what are the actual underlying most core factors? Genes would be the first thing in our mind, but we cannot change our genes (exceptions for epigenetic/environmental factors). So.. what are the most underlying factors - of the disruption of motor program initiation - that we can learn to control to some degree? How would you explain this in your own opinion? (I understand that every researcher has their own unique view on this. I very much respect your viewpoint either way! I'm eager to hear your viewpoint!)