KATHMANDU: Generally, children respond to sounds from four to five months. They start speaking a few words from one year and some sentences from three years.
However, sometimes we do not get any response from those children. They speak slowly, if the problem is identified in the early stages and treated early, the children can speak and hear easily.
However, doctors say that the treatment process can be complicated if you reach the hospital late. Based on the same topic, Khabarhub’s Bina Neupane talked to ENT surgeon Yogesh Neupane.
Here are the excerpts:
Lately, the problem of children not speaking on time has increased, how should one take such a problem?
There are various reasons why a child does not speak on time. One should identify whether the child did not speak due to hearing deficiency or some other problems.
The treatment method is also different. We do a hearing test first to rule this out. We find out if the child listens or does not listen or listens less.
Some children are born with an area of the brain that learns to listen and speak. It expires in five years. If the child doesn’t speak for five years, there is less chance of speaking later.
Therefore, all treatment should be done on time. If the child listens but does not speak, there may be various reasons for this. In the past, during the lockdown, children were addicted to mobiles, laptops, computers and TVs.
It also delayed the child’s speech. If a child has neuropsychiatric problems, they listen but do not speak.
What is the right age for children to speak and not speaking at that time is considered too late?
It should be seen by the reaction of the child rather than the age. The response should be seen on whether the child has the body movement or not.
Generally, a child speaks words such as ba, aa, etc from six months. From 9 to 12 months, the child starts pronouncing words like papa, mama, etc.
By the age of two, they can speak by mixing two words. A child should not be judged on the basis of whether a parent had spoken late. If the child does not respond in time, treatment should be done in time.
What is the reason for not speaking or speaking lately?
One factor is that the speech may not develop even if the child does not listen to the extent that it should. In this case, they can be made better by making a mesh by doing a simple operation.
If there is no need to do surgery, the sound will be heard by wearing a machine and wearing earphones. If there is a problem in the inner ear and the child does not hear, the surgery called a cochlear implant is used to make the child hear and take him to speech development training.
A child may have neurodevelopmental problems, mental problems, or overall development. Some may have slow walking and less body strength. Such children also speak slowly.
Around 25 to 30 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are minimally verbal, which means they speak fewer than 30 or so words or do not speak at all.
It is said that it is also hereditary, how much truth is there in such sayings?
If the parents have hearing loss, it can happen to the child as well. However, if his uncle, or aunt, speaks late, one should not wait much longer hoping the child will speak late as well. It is better to make all efforts within 5 years.
However, if there is a problem in the child now, it can be detected even in 6 months. Therefore, if the child does not speak for 6 years, it would be foolish to wait instead of taking the child for treatment. It should be treated on time.
Cannot it be treated if the child is taken to the hospital after five years?
If a 2-year-old child and a 6-year-old child have the same problem, the treatment for the 2-year-old child will give better results than the 6-year-old child. So it is better to get treatment on time.
What is the status of its treatment in Nepal recently?
In Nepal, as a team of otolaryngologists, a team of pediatricians, and a team of psychiatrists, we have been working in a team for many years.
However, previous treatment was limited to only one area, but now it is executed in an integrated manner. If a child does not hear at birth, we treat him in time and make him speak.
If the child is three years old, if he does not listen, we first try to tell him, then the child only listens and does not speak.
Speaking becomes relatively difficult when one grows older. The early age of a child is a hearing time, if it misses the time, it should be made to speak later. Such a child is treated by keeping him/her in peace therapy. Now various schools are also open for this.
How much time does the treatment take for the child who goes through this process?
Medical doctors do not have medicines to give such children. If a three-year-old child does not hear, we make it hear. It takes 3 to 4 months for that.
After listening, it takes about a year to speak. The child’s tests should be done and the reaction should be seen. Therefore, a good person in the family has a role of one to two years to make the child listen and speak.
Is this treatment accessible to everyone?
We have set up a separate import, therapy and evaluation team at the TU Teaching Hospital. TUTH is accessible to all Nepalis.
The government has also given a subsidy for this. However, the service is not available at the health centers. The accessibility for treatment has to be facilitated by the parents and the government as well.
What should parents pay attention to?
If the child does not speak at the right time, the child should be taken to the hospital without delay. Timely treatment should be considered for the delay or negligence might make the problem serious afterward.
One has to ensure that the child has been reacting aptly. Mobile, laptops, and TV should not be given to the child. It directly affects the child.
It is necessary to keep the child away from the digital media; the parents should be close to the child and take care of the child in time.
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