Stuttering can be caused by a number of different factors. It could be neurological such as after a stroke or a traumatic brain injury, it could be genetic or developmental as another family member has experienced stuttering in their lives, it could be caused by problems with speech motor control or it could also be psychogenic ( affecting the thinking and reasoning part of the brain)  which develops from emotional trauma.  Some children who experience developmental stuttering may outgrow it but on occasion, it can continue into adulthood. This type of stuttering can affect the person's self-esteem as they get older and hinder their communication in different social settings.