What to do if your child regresses to baby talk

Regression in the form of baby talk can happen during times of change, says Helen O’Callaghan.

FOR his age, your five-year-old has quite mature language capabilities but recently he has started reverting to baby-talk — and speaking in the slightly higher pitch of a toddler.

Parents should seek professional help if the baby-talk is combined with other regressive behaviours, such as bed-wetting or signs of anxiety and distress, warns Dr Carol-Anne Murphy, lecturer in speech and language therapy at UL.