Doesn't He Speak? Or Maybe He Can't? How to Tell If a Child's Silence Is an Alarm Signal

Every parent eagerly awaits this moment – ​​the first word that will sound like the most beautiful melody. For many caregivers, this is a sign that the child is developing, that everything is going according to plan. But what if this moment does not come? If another month passes and the child is silent, avoids eye contact, does not point, does not show toys, does not say "give", "no", "mommy"? Sometimes the loudest cry for help is... silence.

A child’s silence – what could be the reason?

Lack of speech is not always the result of a "late start". A child's silence can have many causes that are not always immediately visible to the naked eye.

Physical factors include, among others, hearing impairments - even a slight hearing loss can cause difficulties in acquiring speech sounds, and consequently - problems with imitating sounds and pronouncing words. Problems with the structure of the articulation organs, such as a shortened frenulum or cleft palate, can also result in reluctance to produce sounds. Neurological factors include auditory processing disorders, autism spectrum, developmental aphasia, delayed psychomotor development or metabolic diseases.

Emotional causes can be subtle – a child may be experiencing stress, trauma, overly stressed by changes at home, such as divorce, the arrival of a sibling, kindergarten, migration. A child's silence can be a defense mechanism. The environment also plays a huge role. If a child watches TV most of the day, and the adults around them do not talk to them, do not interact, do not model language – they will not have the opportunity to train.