The child's delay in speaking
The child's delay in speaking.. when is it considered a disease that needs medical intervention
My two-year-old daughter doesn't speak yet... she just says papa and mama! But her older sister, when she was her age, used to pronounce the names of all things and animals, and even expressed in two-word sentences! Does my daughter really have trouble speaking? When is a child considered a delay in speaking? Should I go to the doctor or wait a bit? Many mothers remain lost in the midst of these questions, and to know when the child is considered a delay in speaking, it is necessary first to know when the child begins to speak and the normal stages of development.
When does the child start talking?
During the first years of life, the child acquires many skills, and each child has his own rate. There may be some minor differences between males and females, but there is still a certain age for acquiring each skill that cannot be crossed.
- During the first year, the child begins to make sounds such as: Dada, Papa, Mama.
- From one year to one and a half years old:
- Knows and pronounces the names of things.
- He distinguishes the people around him.
- He repeats the words like his mother and understands the questions he answers.
- From one and a half to two years old:
- The child's vocabulary increases significantly.
- Have two-word sentences.
- From the age of two years and over:
- Distinguish different colors and shapes.
- Expressed in sentences of three or more words.
- Lists related sentences.
When is a child considered a delay in speaking?
After knowing the normal rate of speech development in a child, it becomes easy to know when a child is considered a delay in speech.
- The child is a year old and does not make any sounds
- The child is a year and a half old and prefers to communicate with voices like Dada and Papa without meaning
- Delayed speech in children at the age of two years and still does not say the names of things around him and does not answer questions or carry out any instructions directed to him.
- Studies have shown that more than 60% of children who suffer from delayed speech begin to improve their condition by the time they reach the age of 3 years. But if a child reaches the age of 3 and still cannot pronounce the names of things or form sentences of at least two words, he is considered to be late in speech.
Diagnosis of delayed speech in children
The child is presented to the speech-language pathologist, which is a subspecialty of the ear, nose and throat , and begins with a comprehensive evaluation of the child's condition to find out and diagnose the cause of delayed speech through the following:
- A complete medical history of the child .
- Assessment of the rate of his development and acquisition of different skills according to age.
- family history , as there is a role of heredity in delayed speech in children .
What is the treatment of delayed speech in children?
Treatment of delayed speech in children requires the presence of several parties to achieve the best results ; As the treatment plan includes the role of the speech pathologist and the family, and the case may need to be referred to a psychiatrist, and this is what the speech pathologist determines after diagnosing the cause of delayed speech.
The role of the family in treatment
The family has a large and important role in the treatment plan determined by the speech pathologist, such as:
- Creating an environment for the child that stimulates speech and the use of interactive games .
- Encourage the child to pronounce words and talk to him constantly .
- Reducing the hours of watching television .
- Not to abuse the child and expose him to psychological pressure.
The role of the doctor in the treatment of delayed speech in children
- Regular rehabilitation sessions with a speech therapist.
- Psychological and therapeutic rehabilitation with a psychiatrist if the reason for delayed speech is a mental illness or autism spectrum disorder.
Herbal treatment for delayed speech in children
Many promote the benefits of herbs in treating many diseases, and some may resort to searching for ways to treat delayed speech in children with herbs. But there is not enough scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of herbs in treating delayed speech in children. It may even lead to a delay in the child’s condition if the mother resorts to it as a treatment and neglects the correct scientific methods of treatment. There are some herbs that are used, such as: Brahmi oil, almond mixture, honey, black pepper, ginger But there is no scientific research to prove its efficiency. On the other hand, scientific research tends to emphasize the importance of food quality in treating delayed speech in children. The following is recommended:
- Eat natural nutrients such as vegetables, fruits and foods rich in omega-3 and vitamin
- Reduce the intake of processed and saturated fat foods.
- Reduce artificial sugars and soft drinks.
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