Question
The baby is two years old and still cannot talk, only making the sounds ‘Mama Papa’. The baby can imitate animal sounds but does not respond when taught, only emitting the sounds ‘Eh Eh’. The baby has good understanding ability, can follow instructions, and there are no signs of intellectual abnormalities. The baby has been in school for a few months, and the teacher has reported that the learning progress is slow. The tongue has been checked and there are no abnormalities, but it is unclear whether there is a problem with the vocal cords and has never been diagnosed. The ‘Mama Papa’ sounds are clear. How can I improve the baby’s ability to express language?
Answer
In addition to being influenced by the language center, normal sensory and vocal organs are crucial for language development. Newborns already have complete vocal organs, and postnatal education is essential for language development. Therefore, a slightly delayed language development does not necessarily indicate poor intellectual development. It is important to carefully observe possible causes and strengthen training to promote language development.