Family Doctor Health Advisor
Children: Babies under one
Sleeping problems in babies | Excessive crying | Fever in babies | Vomiting in babies | Diarrhoea in babies | Feeding problems | Slow weight gain | Skin problems in babies
Children: All ages
Feeling generally unwell | Tiredness | Sleeping problems in children | Growth problems | Excessive weight gain | Fever in children | Rash with fever | Skin problems in children | Hair, scalp, and nail problems | Itching | Lumps and swellings | Dizziness, fainting, and seizures | Headache | Confusion and/or drowsiness | Clumsiness | Speech difficulties | Behaviour problems | School difficulties | Eye problems | Disturbed or impaired vision | Painful or irritated ear | Hearing problems | Runny or blocked nose | Sore throat | Coughing | Breathing problems | Mouth problems | Teeth problems | Eating problems | Vomiting in children | Abdominal pain | Diarrhoea in children | Constipation | Abnormal-looking faeces | Urinary problems | Toilet-training problems | Genital problems in boys | Genital problems in girls | Painful arm or leg | Joint and back problems | Foot problems | Limping
Children: Adolescents
Adolescent weight problems | Adolescent behaviour problems | Problems with puberty in boys | Problems with puberty in girls | Adolescent skin problems
Speech difficulties
Consult this chart if your child has any problem with his or her speech, such as a delay in starting to talk, lack of clarity, defects in pronunciation, or stammering. Such difficulties often improve with time, but, in most cases, it is wise to seek the advice of your doctor or nurse. If not addressed early, speech difficulties may cause behaviour and school problems. A speech therapist will usually be able to improve your child's ability to communicate effectively.
Are you worried that your child is late in starting to talk or talks too little for his or her age?
Yes 2 No 3Self-Help Encouraging your child to talk
Helping a baby talk
It is important to talk to your baby as often as possible because babies learn by imitating the people around them.
The following measures should help to stimulate and encourage your child to speak:
- From birth, talk to your child frequently.
- Look at your child when you speak.
- Try not to speak too quickly.
- Use actions to help your child associate words with objects and events.
- Use simple books and nursery rhymes to extend your child's vocabulary.
- Let your child mix with children and adults.
- Try not to interrupt your child when he or she is speaking.
Speech development
Language skills vary widely among children. Some children are slower to speak and develop vocabulary than others. Boys are often slower than girls.
By about 1 year of age, most children are able to recognize a few phrases and can say single words. By age 2, simple instructions, such as "Give teddy to mummy", are usually understood, and by age 3, most children can use simple sentences and have a good basic vocabulary. Although a child's pronunciation is usually clear enough for most of his or her speech to be understood by a stranger at age 3, some sounds, such as "z" and "th", may still not be pronounced clearly until the child is about age 7.
Family Doctor Health Advisor is for information purposes only, and is designed as a general reference and catalyst to seeking further information.
The RACGP is not engaged in providing medical or other advice or services, and is not responsible for the results of any actions taken by any person on the basis of any information in this publication, or for any error in, or omission from, this publication.
Publication Date: 31 March 2009
Authorised By: RACGP
