Question
Why does a 2-year-9-month-old child only speak in single words?
Answer
A 2-year-9-month-old child speaking only in single words is a common language development issue in clinical settings. Typically, children progress from single words to two-word phrases and sentences. If your child has no issues with understanding commands, following instructions, or social interactions, this might be a part of normal development. However, if there are other growth and development abnormalities, such as being shorter and lighter than same age peers, this could be a milder form of delayed language development, which can be improved through enhanced training. Key points for training include: 1. Conduct articulation exercises, combining play to increase engagement, such as opening and closing the mouth, sticking out and retracting the tongue, curling and pouting the lips, etc., to lay the foundation for pronunciation. 2. Perform breathing exercises, such as blowing bubbles, blowing out candles, or inflating balloons. 3. Conduct picture listening comprehension training, starting with common words and then moving on to sentences. In training, slow down the speaking rate, allow children to clearly see the mouth shape, and combine gestures to strengthen the impression through a comprehensive assessment of sound and light. 4. Guide pronunciation training by using onomatopoeia (animal sounds, natural sounds) and bilabial sounds ending in (such as ba, pa, ma) to guide children in imitating sounds. 5. Daily communication training: frequently use concise language when communicating with children and incorporate what they have learned into daily conversations.