One theory holds that the basis of a stuttering problem is rooted in psychology. You can only learn how to stop stuttering once you have addressed underlying psychological issues that contribute to the problem. A psychotherapist will help you understand and deal with these issues, leading to improvements in your speech.

A second theory says that stuttering is a learned behavior, which small children normally engage in as they are learning to speak. If a child is punished or criticized for this, she may develop anxiety surrounding speech, and may not be able to stop stuttering, once she has started.

Yet another school of thought proposes that stuttering is organic, and that some people's brains are simply wired a bit differently. Although proponents of this theory generally allow that stuttering can also be caused by a situation, or emotional factors, they believe that the biggest difference between those who stutter and those who do not is neurological. Psychological reasons probably have nothing to do with it- aside from their stutter, stutterers are completely normal.

Recent studies have shown that there may also be a genetic component to stuttering. Research done on twins and multiple generations in families seem to indicate that stuttering may run in families. While most children with this problem, do stop stuttering at some point, a small percentage continue into adulthood, and are more likely do to so if their relatives did as well.

Learning the causes of stuttering is an important first step in determining how you will eventually go about treating it.