Which department should I consult if my child speaks later than expected?
There are many reasons for children's late speech, and different reasons require different departments. One can first go to the pediatric neurology department for examination to understand whether the child's late speech is due to delayed language development. Additionally, if there are problems with the tongue frenulum, it is necessary to consult the oral and maxillofacial surgery department.
In most cases, children's late speech is normal and has no relation to intelligence.
For children's late speech, one should consult the pediatric neurology department. Late speech indicates delayed language development. First, we need to examine the child's hearing and intelligence. If there are problems with hearing and intelligence, they will both affect language development, requiring active treatment of the underlying diseases. It is also necessary to go to the oral and maxillofacial surgery department to check if there are any issues with the tongue frenulum, as a short tongue frenulum can also affect language development. If none of these problems are present, then language training needs to be strengthened. Parents should spend more time with their children, telling them stories to promote language development.
There is no direct relationship between children's speech and intelligence. In fact, many babies start speaking early and have higher intelligence levels. However, there are exceptions. Many children with normal or higher intelligence also experience delayed language development. Therefore, one cannot solely judge intelligence based on the timing of speech. Generally speaking, the timing of speech differs among children. Some children start speaking words at eight months and can speak simple sentences before one year old. There are also some children with normal intellectual development who can speak at three or four years old, and some even later. Generally, girls tend to speak earlier than boys.
