Question
My son is about to turn 20 months old, but he still cannot speak and seems not to understand what adults are saying, only understanding some simple words like “bye” and “go.” However, he seems able to recognize the sounds from TV commercials. His head circumference is 50cm, and he weighs 13.5kg. He was hospitalized for jaundice and pneumonia at 17 days old. What should we do?
Answer
Based on your description, your child’s current situation is normal and may be due to individual developmental differences. Therefore, you should not worry too much. To ensure a high-quality pregnancy outcome, we recommend that you undergo Down syndrome screening between 14 to 16 weeks of pregnancy, a 4D ultrasound between 22 to 26 weeks of pregnancy, and late pregnancy tests such as cord blood analysis and chromosome testing to exclude the possibility of fetal malformations or chromosomal diseases. After the child is born, you can check for congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, and other issues during the newborn screening. We suggest that you relax and prepare well for prenatal examinations.