When parents notice that their child does not speak in sentences, most of them do not know whether it is worth alarming or the norm, and until what age? Such a phenomenon can indicate delayed speech or other disorders, and in such cases, it is important to see a doctor and begin correction. It is necessary to understand whether it is worth worrying if the child does not speak in sentences, and what to do in such a case.
When should a child start speaking in sentences?
The age at which a child begins to speak in sentences can vary depending on individual development. However, more often children start combining words into simple word combinations at about 2 years of age, but each child develops at his or her own pace.
Here is a sample time frame for the development of speech in children:
- Age 1-1.5 years. A child begins to pronounce individual words such as "mom," "dad," "cat," "juice," etc. At this age, he can use them to express his needs and desires.
- Age 1.5-2 years. The child combines two words to form simple phrases such as "my doll", "more milk". He can also use simple questions such as "What is this?" or "Where is mommy?
- Age 2-3 years. A child begins to use sentences consisting of three or more words. He begins to use verbs and nouns in his speech and to build more complex questions and statements.
- After age 3. The child develops vocabulary and grammatical skills. He can build complex sentences, describe events, and ask questions about the past or future.
It is important to note that each child develops at his or her own pace. If you are concerned about the correctness of speech development, or if your child only speaks individual words after age 3, it is worth seeing a doctor for advice.
The main reasons
If a child does not speak in sentences at age 3 or 4, it may be due to various factors. Here are a few possible causes:
- Delayed development of speech. In this case, it is said that the child develops more slowly in this area than other peers. This can be due to physical, cognitive, or emotional factors, mental or neurological disorders (autism spectrum disorder, general developmental delay, etc.).
- Sensory or motor problems. Sometimes children have difficulty processing sensory information or have underdeveloped motor skills that can hinder the development of speech and language. As a result, the child has difficulty pronouncing sounds and forming sentences correctly.
- Lack of a stimulating environment. A child's speech development can be stunted if he or she watches TV or uses gadgets a lot while having limited live communication with adults and peers.
- Social-emotional factors. Some children are reluctant to speak in sentences because of shyness, anxiety, or other social-emotional factors that can hinder communication and speech development.
Only a specialist can determine why a child cannot speak in sentences. To determine the cause, a comprehensive examination is usually carried out, which includes interviews and various tests to evaluate the nervous system and speech apparatus, laboratory, and instrumental studies.
When and which specialist should I see?
If your child is not speaking in sentences at age 3 or older, it is worth seeing a doctor to evaluate his or her health. Don't put off seeing a specialist if your child:
- has no progress in the development of speech;
- has a limited vocabulary;
- has trouble understanding the speech of others;
- does not respond to his name;
- has difficulty communicating with his peers.
In this situation, you may need to consult a child neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, or psychologist. If you do not know which specialist to see, first make an appointment with a child neurologist. After the consultation, he will tell you where to go for further examination.
A specialist will make recommendations on how to help your child after reviewing his or her medical history and additional methods of examination. With a comprehensive approach, in most cases, children can overcome the problems of delayed speech development. The earlier treatment and correction are started, the faster the results will be noticeable.
