Unraveling Stuttering Through a Multi-Omics Lens

Stuttering, a complex and multifactorial speech disorder, has long presented an enigma regarding its etiology. While earlier approaches often emphasized psychosocial influences, historical clinical and speech-language strategies have considered multiple contributing factors. By integrating genomic, transcriptomic and phenomic evidence, the ongoing research illustrates how functional genomics can unravel the biological architecture of complex speech disorders. In particular, advances in omic technologies have unequivocally positioned genetics and underlying biological pathways at the forefront of stuttering research. I have experienced stuttering and lived with it since my early childhood. This perspective article presents findings from omic studies, highlighting relevant aspects such as gene discoveries, implicated cellular mechanisms, and the intricate genetic architecture of developmental stuttering. As a person who stutters, I offer an intimate perspective on how these scientific insights are not merely academic but profoundly impactful for the affected community. A multi-omic integration strategy, combining large-scale genetic discovery with deep phenotyping and functional validation, is advocated to accelerate understanding in this field. Additionally, a bibliometric analysis using an international database was conducted to map trends and identify directions in stuttering research within the omic context. Ultimately, these scientific endeavors hold the potential to inform not only personalized interventions but also critical policy and regulatory changes, enhancing accessibility, support, and the recognized rights of people who stutter.