He was mocked and mimicked. He was stung when a teacher laughed at him in class. Each setback made him feel worse about himself, and worsened the stuttering. Stuttering is often misunderstood. About 3 million Americans stutter, according to NSP estimates.
Experts know it runs in families, meaning it has a genetic basis.
Some people stutter because of brain injury or stroke. It's 4-6 times more common in boys than girls. Some feel it's a problem with breathing. Some feel it's a problem with articulation. Some feel it's an emotional or personality problem.