My cousin, who is six years old, cannot speak properly. I suspect this has to do with the fact he was brought up in a very confusing 'language environment'. For instance, his mother speaks mandarin, his father speaks cantonese, and his environment speaks french.
He cannot make proper sentences, or speak clearly. He has trouble pronouncing things correctly, but I do not know if he's following his parents' accents, or if he just can't say it. I tell him a word, IE: Black, and he'll say it completely different from what I've said.
Furthermore, I should add that everyone in our family grew up in 'language environments' like his. I grew up with four/five languages, but I managed to speak clearly by the time I was two years old.
He also has trouble learning things. In his group swimming lessons, he's often left behind because he can't learn what the other kids are learning. He often repeats things over and over again. He doesn't remember stuff you tell him unless it is repeated over and over again. Despite that, I do feel that he gets along well with other kids, and is somewhat of a smart child.
The question is: Should we be worried? Is he exhibiting characteristics of learning disabilities?
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