A short video/transcript by Ming (Agents of Speech) explaining why verbally capable children can become stuck using single-word utterances. Ming argues that repetitive parental prompting (e.g., “What do you want?” / “You say…”) creates an efficient routine—prompt-response—that reinforces single-word use and prevents expansion to multi-word phrases.
Parent had a verbal child and they were stuck with single words and they didn't know how to get through. So at home, whenever the child wanted something, mom or dad would prompt by going, what do you want? And then they would prompt, I want. And the child would be able to say the word. Or sometimes when the child goes and then the mom says, you say, hoping the child would say the word. And usually they do. Okay. Because that's how the structure and the routine is for the child. That communication is efficient to them, it's far too efficient. Every time I want something, I point, I make a sound, you respond with a question or like a high tone, I say the word, I get the item. That's it, right? Why did I say that's? It is because in the communication, when you want to teach something, it needs to have repetition. What we do here is that some of the kids are able to use single words right away, but they cannot get the kid to use more than a single word every time they will have the prompt, it becomes a routine and a habit.
