Parents often face a situation where their child understands the addressed speech well, but does not respond or speaks very little. The commonplace explanation – “he doesn’t want to” – does not really stand up to criticism from the point of view of modern science. The absence of speech with preserved understanding signals the presence of certain difficulties or developmental features.
Why the child does not speak:
1. Delayed speech developmentSometimes children start speaking later than their peers due to a slower pace of speech development. This can be due to both a genetic predisposition and a lack of speech stimulation. Studies show that early engagement in communication helps to activate speech
2. Features of neurodevelopment
In children with neurodevelopmental disorders, speech may appear later or have non-standard forms. They can understand the meaning of statements well, but not use words to communicate due to the peculiarities of information processing by the brain.
3. Selective mutism
This is an anxiety disorder in which a child can speak in a familiar environment (e.g., at home) but is silent in social situations (e.g., in kindergarten). This is not due to a reluctance to speak, but to a high level of social anxiety.
4. Hearing impairment
Even a slight hearing loss can complicate speech development. The child can focus on the context and gestures, understanding the general meaning of the conversation, but not distinguish sounds well enough to reproduce them
5. Disorders of the nervous system
Some children have neurological developmental disorders that affect the coordination of speech movements or the processes of speech formation in the brain. For example, speech dyspraxia can make it difficult to pronounce, even though the child understands what is being said.
Why should we not say that a child “does not want” to speak?
Refusal to speak is almost never a conscious choice. All children want to communicate, because it is a basic human need. If a child does not use words, it means that there are certain barriers for him or her – psychological, neurological or behavioral. Ignoring these signals or punishing them for their silence can only exacerbate the problem.
How to help a child start speaking?
1. Seek professional help – a speech therapist, neurologist, psychologist, or early development specialist will help assess the situation.
2. Have your hearing checked – even if your child responds to sounds, there may be imperceptible disorders.
3. Stimulate speech through games and interactive communication – it is important not to force the child to speak, but to create comfortable conditions for the natural development of speech.
4. Avoid pressure and criticism – the child needs to feel confident to start speaking.
If a child understands the addressed speech but remains silent, it is not his or her conscious choice. The reasons can be different – from anxiety to brain development. Early diagnosis and the right approach can significantly improve a child’s speech skills and provide a comfortable environment for their development.
Taking care of your children,
Speech therapist,
correctional teacher,
founder of the Speech and Correctional Therapy Centers of Oleksandra Zinchenko,
co-founder of the
Association of speech therapists
Ukraine
More information is available on the website:
https://logocenter-zinchenko.com/
