Why doesn't my son like to talk?

If your child does not like to talk as much as other children of the same age, he may have a speech or communication problem due to small changes in speech muscles, not necessarily a sign of more serious problems such as autism, for example.

In addition, hearing problems or other situations such as being an only child or the youngest child can also create barriers in developing the ability to speak. Thus, it is recommended to consult a speech therapist to identify the possible reason for this difficulty.

Children are generally expected to start speaking the first words at around 18 months, but it can take up to 6 years for them to be able to speak correctly, as there is no correct age for full language development.

Find out more at: When your child should start speaking.

What to do to treat speech problems in childhood

The best way to treat children with speech problems in childhood is to consult a speech therapist to identify the problem and start appropriate treatment. However, a large part of childhood speech problems can be improved with some important tips, which include:

Avoid treating the child as a baby, as children tend to behave according to what the parents expect of them; Do not say the words in the wrong way, such as 'bibi' instead of 'car', because the child imitates the sounds made by adults and does not give the right name to objects; Avoid demanding above the child's capacities, as it can make the child insecure about his development, which may impair his learning; Do not blame the child for errors in speech, as 'I did not understand anything you said' or 'speak right', as it is normal for errors to develop in speech development. In these cases it is recommended to just say 'Repeat, I didn't understand' in a calm and gentle way, as if you were talking to an adult friend, for example; Encourage the child to speak, because he needs to feel that there is an environment where he can make mistakes without being judged; Avoid asking the child to repeat the same word several times, as it can create a negative image of himself, leading the child to avoid communicating.

However, parents and teachers should receive guidance from pediatricians and speech therapists to find out the best way to deal with the child at each stage of speech development, avoiding impairing their normal development, even if it is slower than other children.

Main speech problems in childhood

The main speech problems in childhood are related to the exchange, omission or distortion of sounds and, for this reason, include stuttering, disordered language, dyslalia or apraxia, for example.

1. Stutter

Stuttering is a speech problem that interferes with the fluidity of the child's speech, with excessive repetition of the first part of the word being common, as in 'cla-cla-cla-claro', or a single sound, as in the case of 'co-ooo-mida', for example. However, stuttering is very common up to 3 years of age, and should only be treated as a problem after that age.

2. Disordered speech

Children with disordered speech find it difficult to speak in an understandable way and, therefore, have a lot of difficulty in expressing what they are thinking. In these cases, sudden changes in the rhythm of language are frequent, such as unexpected pauses mixed with increased speech speed.

3. Dyslalia

Dyslalia is a speech problem characterized by the presence of several language errors during the child's speech, which may include exchanging letters in a word, such as 'callus' instead of 'car', omission of sounds, such as 'omi' in place of 'ate', or addition of syllables of a word, like 'window' instead of 'window'. See more about this disease here.

4. Apraxia

Apraxia arises when the child has difficulty producing or imitating sounds properly, unable to repeat simpler words, they say 'té' when asked to speak 'man', for example. This usually happens when the child is unable to properly move the muscles or structures needed to speak, as in the case of a tongue stuck.

Due to the different changes in the child's speech and the difficulty in identifying true speech problems, it is advisable to consult a speech therapist whenever there is any suspicion, as it is the most appropriate professional to correctly identify the problem.

Thus, it is normal that in the same family there are children who start to speak near the age of 1 and a half when others only start to speak after 3 or 4 years and, therefore, parents should not compare the speech development of a child with the older sibling, for example, as it can cause unnecessary anxiety and aggravate the child's development.

When to go to the pediatrician

It is recommended to consult a speech therapist when the child:

He stutters frequently after the age of 4; Does not produce any kind of sounds, even when playing alone; Does not understand what he is told; He was born with a congenital problem in hearing or in the mouth, such as tongue stuck or cleft lip, for example.

In these cases, the doctor will assess the child's history and observe their behavior in order to identify which problems are present in the way they communicate, selecting the most appropriate treatment and guiding parents on the best way to relate to the child, in order to solve the problem as quickly as possible.

Here's how to know if your child has a hearing problem that can make speech difficult in: