On International Stuttering Awareness Day (22 October 2025), doctors in Hyderabad are urging greater awareness as the number of cases continues to rise. They emphasize that early intervention and emotional support at home can be life-changing, especially when parents create a calm, encouraging environment that boosts a child’s confidence.

According to Dr. Jyothi Lal Das, Audiologist and Speech Therapist at Rainbow Children’s Hospitals, stuttering is becoming more common, with more patients seeking help. Causes range from genetic and neurogenic factors to psychological shocks or trauma, including events like horror films or major life transitions. “Stuttering is curable if addressed early,” he says.

Dr. Das warns that many parents neglect the issue, believing children will grow out of it. “Some even scold their kids, which is harmful. I often see adults in their 30s come for help only after stuttering causes major problems, like job interviews,” he adds. Without timely treatment, stuttering can worsen to the point where speech becomes severely impaired. He stresses that therapy — not medicine — is key, involving sessions that build fluency and confidence.

Dr. Nishi, Speech Therapist at CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, explains that stuttering can also emerge later in life due to neurological injury, trauma, or genetic factors. While there's no instant cure, it can be managed through speech therapy, which includes fluency-shaping, breathing techniques, and confidence-building.

Both doctors highlight the need to break stigma and correct misconceptions — especially the myth that stuttering reflects nervousness or low intelligence. Globally, over 80 million people stutter. Awareness remains key to support and change.