Is medical intervention required for speech impairment in a toddler?
Patient: My 2 1/2 year old grandson rarely looks at us in the eye. His speech is somewhat less than other children his age. He could stay with an electronic device 24/7. To get him to eat his parents give him an iPad and feed him while he s to distracted to not eat. He bites his nails to the point they are bleeding. I m am a teacher and his tantrums among other things resembles autistic children I have worked with. Do you see a need for professional intervention and if so what? Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.  Depending in your description I think it is necessary to as for professional help. It looks as a development problem that need a diagnosis. And of course the first thing to do is to eliminate all the electronic device from him because they don't bring nothing good in this case.   Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.