speaking problem

My two-year-old child does not speak. All he can do is utter single syllables like ma, ba, da and so on. Is it anything to worry about?

A child is able to speak properly if he or she doesn’t have any problem in any of these three faculties ? hearing, intelligence and vocal power. Of these three hearing is the sense which we cannot assess in our day-to-day life. If a child has a subtle hearing defect it’s impossible to get detected by the parents, because the child may be able to hear, but we really cannot understand what he or she is hearing. It is not very difficult to assess the other two faculties. Please consult your paediatrician. If the doctor so suggests, you may have to consult an ENT specialist and a psychiatrist.

withdrawn child

My son (3) mostly keeps to himself. He does not like to play with other children and stays withdrawn from the surrounding. What’s wrong with him? Is it any personality disorder?

The symptoms you’ve mentioned point the needle of suspicion towards autism. Even though there are a number of other signs like poor eye contact, reliance on non-verbal communications, the foremost sign of autism is that a child suffering from it stays withdrawn and spends hours in solitary play. Eye contact is typically absent or minimal. Even if he or she speaks, the speech is often repetitive and nonsense rhyming may be there. If the treatment for autism starts early it can help improve the child’s language and social functioning to some extent. I think you should consult a child specialist for a proper guidance.

agitated mood

My four-year-old son sometimes becomes so agitated that he kicks me and hurls abuses at me. Is it abnormal?

It may be a normal behavioral pattern. First of all, one should not use any abusive language in front of the child. Children pick up what they see or hear. So the parents should try to behave properly in front of their children. If one feels the child is showing improper behaviour he or she should be trained properly, pacified or sometimes given a light punishment (such as not speaking with the child for some time). However, one should not beat up, or rebuke, the child.

pain in abdomen

My five-year-old son has been suffering from recurrent pain in the abdomen. The pain usually appears either in the evening or morning before he leaves for school. No common medication has helped. What’s wrong with him?

In nine out of 10 cases, abdominal pain in children above two years has psychological or functional origin. It’s very difficult for parents and physicians to determine the roots of the problem. However, if your child does not get up from sleep or has fever or loose stool or a loss of weight accompanied with the problem, it may not be psychogenic. But if the problem arises only before studying or going to school it’s a case of phobia of stu-dy or school. If the problem surfaces before bedtime, it’s a case of separation anxiety. The child may be anxious to leave your company. He may not be telling you so, but maybe within himself he is angry at your behaviour.

lonely child

My eight-year-old daughter feels extremely lonely. Ours is a nuclear family and my husband has to travel frequently. Even though I try my best to give her company she yearns for something more. I wonder how I can keep her happy. Please help me.

This is a typical problem of a nuclear family. First of all, at her age of your daughter may not find your company very friendly or interesting. She may like the company of her peers more interesting. You have to make her understand that her father is abroad for the betterment of his family. Your husband should spend sometime talking to your daughter regularly. Somehow you have to convince you daughter that it is for her future happiness he working hard, and staying away from home for long durations.