What is the primary cause attributed to stuttering in the Disorder of Brain Organization theory?

The Disorder of Brain Organization theory of stuttering primarily attributes the condition to a lack of cerebral dominance. This theory suggests that stuttering may arise from atypical organization and functioning in the brain's language areas. In individuals who stutter, there may be less specialization in the left hemisphere for language processing, which can result in difficulties with fluency during speech production.

The theory posits that for fluent speech, there needs to be a dominant control of the left hemisphere for language, while the right hemisphere might contribute to aspects like emotional tone and prosody. When there is a disruption in this balance or when dominance is insufficient, it can lead to stuttering behaviors as the brain struggles to coordinate the complex processes involved in speech.

Understanding the connection between cerebral dominance and speech fluency helps to inform therapy approaches focused on improving communication strategies and neural organization, thereby addressing the root cognitive and neurological factors associated with stuttering.