A parent brings an 18-month-old to the pediatrician for a routine well-child visit and reports the child has been babbling and cooing since 6 months of age but is not yet saying any words.Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?
A) "Don't worry, your child should catch up soon."
B) "The doctor will want to refer your child to an audiologist and speech pathologist."
C) "This is normal speech development for an 18-month-old child."
D) "Your child has an expressive language disorder and needs further evaluation."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an appropriate response.By 18 months children should be speaking in simple sentences.Adequate hearing is essential for the development of speech.Hearing and language should be tested,and a referral to an audiologist and speech pathologist is indicated.The nurse should not give false reassurance and needs to address the parent's concerns.The nurse cannot diagnose an expressive language disorder.

A Parent Brings an 18-Month-Old to the Pediatrician for a Routine