Is a Stammer Hereditary?

Genetics. Stuttering tends to run in families. It appears that stuttering can result from inherited (genetic) abnormalities.

Can stammering be genetic?

Genes are also thought to have a role. Around 2 in 3 people who stammer have a family history of stammering, which suggests the genes a child inherits from their parents might make them more likely to develop a stammer.

How is stuttering passed on?

Genetics and Stuttering

The evidence for genetic factors in stuttering is overwhelming, with genetic factors playing a role in at least half of all cases. Although stuttering does cluster in families, severity does not. In other words, if you have a family member who stutters, you are more likely to stutter.