A toddler over two years old doesn't speak much.
Mar 28, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ma Yan
Introduction
If a toddler over two years old is not speaking much due to delayed speech development, parents should spend more time with the child, increase communication, and improve the language environment. If the issue is caused by a short lingual frenulum, treatment options such as lingual frenulum correction or frenotomy can be performed under a doctor's guidance. If hearing impairment is the cause, the child may benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implantation, along with speech therapy.
A toddler over two years old who cannot speak well may be affected by physiological or pathological factors, such as short lingual frenulum or hearing impairment. Different management approaches can be adopted depending on the underlying cause.
1. Physiological Factors
If the child has had limited interaction with others or has been exposed to multiple dialects, which may delay speech development, parents should spend more time with the child, increase communication, and improve the language environment.
2. Pathological Factors
1) Short Lingual Frenulum
If restricted tongue movement due to a short lingual frenulum is the cause, surgical treatments such as frenuloplasty or frenotomy can be performed under medical guidance.
2) Hearing Impairment
If speech difficulties result from hearing impairment, treatment options may include wearing a hearing aid or undergoing cochlear implantation as recommended by a doctor. Additionally, appropriate speech therapy should be conducted.
Besides the above, autism spectrum disorder could also be a possible cause. It is recommended to seek active treatment under medical guidance.
