Retard de langage chez les enfants : « À 4 ans, mon fils est absorbé par les écrans et ne formule toujours pas de phrase »
Language delays in children are constantly increasing, according to many health professionals. Parents, often distraught, share their concerns about their little ones who speak little or nothing and struggle to communicate. The family environment and excessive screen use are now considered major factors in these disorders.
Today, many children, often under 3 years old, spend several hours a day in front of screens (cartoons, canteens) available on YouTube, etc., sometimes replacing real human interactions. This significantly reduces their opportunities to express themselves, ask questions, and engage in dialogue.
Child psychiatrist Dr. Awa Diéye highlights many factors linked to language delay in a child.
"An unstimulating environment and exposure to screens are the most common factors I encounter in my patients, outside of neurodevelopmental diseases or disorders. Today, in a family environment, adults have smartphones, and possibly children under 3 years old are sitting down, so there is almost no interaction between parents and children. This is extremely common," she said.
The other often-overlooked factor: loneliness. In homes where parents work, many are stressed or absent, and interactions with the child may be limited to the essentials (eating, sleeping, bathing). Language, on the other hand, requires time for free exchanges, play, and repetition.
Screens, isolation, pace of life: a silent cocktail
A mother, who wished to remain anonymous, was concerned about her eldest son's speech delay. "After school, he spent long hours alone, absorbed in his tablet or in front of the television." "From the age of 3, he had difficulty expressing himself clearly, unlike his cousins. When I learned that speech delay could be linked to overexposure to screens, I decided to focus on more stimulating activities. I encouraged him to play soccer with neighborhood children. That's when there was an improvement," she says.
According to experts, a child should not be exposed to screens before the age of 3, spend 1 or 2 hours in front of an anime and favor group games and communication between children and adults from the age of 3.
Dr. Dieye clarified that there are warning signs that should not be ignored, including: "At 2 years old, the child says almost no words; at 3 years old, he does not form short sentences, he does not try to communicate (looks, gestures, sounds), he seems indifferent to his environment." In this case, she said, a consultation with a speech therapist or a child psychiatrist is recommended.
“Lina was almost 3 years old and barely spoke. At home, she wasn’t very talkative; I thought it was normal, that she would speak when she was ready. But it was in kindergarten that everything changed. In just a few weeks, she started talking, singing, and telling lots of stories. It was impressive,” says Mélanie, her mother.
A rich social environment: a key factor in language
This testimony highlights a crucial point: language does not develop in isolation. It requires a rich breeding ground of interaction, exchanges, and listening. However, many children grow up in family environments that are impoverished in language, often despite the good will of their parents.
Entering a community setting, especially kindergarten, can play a decisive role for some children. For others, interaction between children fosters language development, not to mention communication with their parents.
The various testimonies illustrate that a stimulating environment and games can make all the difference. The foundation of language is built at home, from the first months, through gaze, games, stories, and discussions.
Commentaires (3)
Mon fils aussi
Avant d’être parent, vous avez la responsabilité d’avoir un cerveau d’abord et d’être moins ignorant. Dans le cas contraire, vous serez responsable de tout ce qui peut arriver à votre enfant. On ne donne pas un écran à un enfant. En Europe, c’est interdit.
Désolé de vous le dire mais votre fils n'est pas absorbé par les écrans, vous l'avez noyé dedans par irresponsabilité, paresse voire lâcheté. Prompt rétablissement à lui. Espérant qu'il ne soit pas idiot a vie par votre faute
Vous aussi,il n'y a rien de surprenant qu'un enfant parle pas ... clairement avant 4 ans. Les exceptions existent selon les lois de la création Divine de Dieu. A ces âges, jusqu'à 4 ans, l'enfant dit quelques mots ou commence à gazouiller dès 2 ans. Ils parleront toujours après, certains " silencieux " hier seront même des adultes éloquents.
Il faut pas accuser son environnement ou chercher des raisons lui sont extérieures, c'est un problème physiologique de retard de développement intellectuel de l'individu du à la malnutrition, une maladie cachée ou un problème génétique de consanguinité dans le mariage qui se resulte à une déficience intellectuelle avec un coefficient intellectuel faible. Il faut vite approcher un psychologue qui va l'évaluer.
Comment peut on laisser à ces âges bébés des jeux vidéos, portables même souvent à longueur de journée.... uniquement pour être tranquille. Aucune activité relationnelle avec l'enfant. Même les mamans toubabs ont compris les dangers de ces jeux, ou télé, voir...Tik Tok
Mon. Garçon de 5 ans aussi aucune phrase prononcée
IL faut le laisser s'amuser et avoir une interaction avec d'autres enfants de son âge en plus il faut prendre l'habitude de parler avec votre enfants. Mes enfants ont eu le même soucis maintenant ils sont aussi bavard qu'un perroquet soyez patient avec lui , cava aller , bonne chance.
Il faut l'inscrire dans une école pour apprendre le coran
Le problème est réglé
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