Stammering and a possible genetic link

As someone who grew up reading The Examiner during my youth, I would like to comment on your recent natural health advice column (Feelgood, Feb 1).

First, I want to say that while many opinions exist on the treatment of stammering in children, all would agree early intervention with a speech therapist is a must to increase the chances of a child being among the 75% of those who stop stammering.

Second, for decades much evidence has pointed towards genetic and neurological factors as the causes of stammering. In 2010 scientists for the first time identified ‘stammering genes’ that account for 9% of the cases. It is highly likely more stammering genes will be identified in the near future. The most overt example of the genetics of stammering I have ever read was a biographical article on author Lewis Carroll on the website of The Stuttering Foundation.

Carroll was a lifelong stammerer whose career plans were hindered as a result. But later in writing children’s fantasy novels, he found the fluency in expressing himself in writing that he lacked in his real life. The article suggests Carroll’s parents were two first cousins who married. They had 11 children, nine of whom stuttered far past childhood. The website of this non-profit charity has free resources such as streaming videos and downloadable materials. Stammerers and parents from all over the world benefit from the free resources on this website and I hope that people in Ireland can benefit, too, especially children.

Colm F Ruane

Bronx

New York