Exploring parental and caregiver knowledge, reactions, and reported practices toward childhood stuttering in Egypt: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Parental/caregivers’ knowledge and responses are pivotal for early recognition, effective management, and ultimate prognosis of childhood stuttering. However, specific empirical data on parental perspectives are limited in Egypt, which hinders timely and effective intervention and support strategies. This descriptive, cross-sectional study comprehensively explored Egyptian parents’/caregivers’ knowledge, reactions, and behaviors regarding childhood stuttering. Methods One hundred forty-five parents/caregivers of children who stutter completed an online, item-based Arabic questionnaire. This questionnaire assessed parental/caregiver knowledge of childhood stuttering, their typical reactions to their children’s speech, and their adoption of home-based management approaches. Results More than half of parents/caregivers reported limited knowledge across several questionnaire domains. Common parental reactions included patiently waiting for the child to finish speaking or showing empathy to facilitate communication. While 62.8% reported no general alteration in their treatment of their children due to stuttering, 37.2% treated their children who stuttered differently from their other children. A notable 58.6% of parents/caregivers had never discussed the stuttering problem with their child. Parental reactions did not significantly vary by the child’s age or gender; however, significant differences were seen among parents/caregivers of only children and eldest children. Furthermore, 50% of participants reported feeling very worried to extremely worried about their children’s stuttering, yet there was a limited tendency to seek professional help. Conclusions There are gaps in parents/caregivers’ knowledge and variability in reported caregiving responses to childhood stuttering in Egypt. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted public educational programs to address misconceptions, increase parental knowledge, and enhance child outcomes.