This is one of the most heartbreaking stories I’ve heard. Saba messaged me on WhatsApp. Her 6 year old son was struggling with stuttering. She had installed Eloquent, our stuttering therapy app, but she didn’t understand how to use it.

“Maine app install kiya. Ab kya karu? [I installed the app. What should I do now?]”

I tried to explain, but she barely understood English. "Call me," I said, because we couldn’t do this over messages. She didn’t call, but sent a voice note. I immediately understood why. She also stuttered.

On asking if she stuttered, she said no, but I could straightaway tell that she did. Stigma runs deep! Ask me - it took me 15 years before I first spoke to a friend about my stuttering.

She finally called three days later and told her story. She did stutter, but she had managed to get along. But when her son started stuttering, her husband and in-laws started harassing her. They blamed her saying, "He sees you talk like this, and that’s why he also talks like this!"

No one wants to talk "like this".  Believe me, it’s not fun, although some may find it amusing.

I explained to her how the app works and sent screenshots. Speech therapy takes time to show results. People drop out if they don’t understand how the exercises will help.

But to my absolute delight, she messaged a few weeks later. Sent a photo of her son. Told me that, unknown to her husband’s family, both of them were using Eloquent to practice every day, and her son was now trying to "speak better".

Saba's strength and determination in the face of adversity are truly inspiring.  My best wishes and prayers are with them!