Overview
- Specialists underscore that stuttering has neurological and genetic underpinnings, with MRI studies indicating differences in the brain’s speech-motor planning.
- Symptoms usually begin between ages two and six, and early identification markedly improves outcomes with many children showing large reductions in disfluency after timely therapy.
- An estimated 70 million people worldwide stutter, roughly 1% of adults with higher prevalence in children.
- Peru’s health system recorded 24,461 cases from 2021 to 2023 and more than 7,700 new cases in 2024, while experts say the country still lacks sustained public screening and free-treatment programs.
- Stigma and pressure can intensify difficulties, so guidance urges listeners to avoid finishing sentences or telling people to slow down, keep eye contact, and respond with patience.