What should I do if my 2-and-a-half-year-old boy cannot talk yet

A 2.5-year-old boy who cannot speak may require different management approaches depending on the underlying causes, which commonly include non-medical and medical factors. Medical factors often involve hearing impairment, short lingual frenulum, etc.

I. Non-medical factors

If delayed language development results from a poor family environment or lack of effective communication between parents and the child, or if there are coordination difficulties in speech production, it is recommended to increase interaction with the child and practice verbal communication repeatedly.

II. Medical factors

1. Hearing impairment

If speech function is impaired due to hearing loss, hearing can be restored by wearing a hearing aid or undergoing cochlear implantation as advised by a physician, followed by speech therapy.

2. Short lingual frenulum

If limited tongue movement caused by a short lingual frenulum affects articulation, surgical treatments such as frenuloplasty or frenotomy should be performed under medical guidance.

In addition, autism spectrum disorder could also be a possible cause. Prompt medical evaluation and treatment according to medical advice are recommended.