Features

Positive Relationships: Ask the expert ... Lack of speech

How do you deal with a child who never says a word at nursery? Don't jump to conclusions, advises Dr Maria Robinson, but observe him more carefully.

We have a three-year-old boy who has been in the nursery for two terms who does not speak, despite talking at home. He is very immature for his age in play and is only just interacting alongside his peers. I have been to his home and witnessed him talk a little and play with his brother. Do you have any ideas why this is? The mother is quite intense and said the child nearly died at childbirth.

As with so many issues concerning the well-being of children, there is often no straightforward answer to this query because there appear to be a number of factors which could be relevant for this little boy's lack of speech within the setting, including that of 'selective mutism', which I will explain later. First, we need to consider all the information given.

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