The nurse is interviewing a 3-year-old girl who tells the nurse: “Want go potty.” The parents tell the nurse that their daughter often speaks in this type of broken speech. What would be the nurse’s appropriate response to this concern?

Choice A reason: Stuttering involves repetition or prolongation of sounds, not omitting words for brevity. Telegraphic speech, where toddlers use short phrases like “want go potty,” is normal at age 3, reflecting developmental language simplification, not a fluency disorder like stuttering, making this an incorrect response. Choice B reason: Echolalia is the repetition of others’ words, often seen in autism, not the use of short, functional phrases. The described speech, “want go potty,” is telegraphic, a normal toddler pattern, not echolalia requiring correction, making this an inaccurate response for the observed speech pattern. Choice C reason: Telegraphic speech is normal in 3-year-olds, not a developmental delay. Consulting a speech therapist is unnecessary unless other language milestones are delayed. The described speech pattern, using key words without connectors, is typical for this age, making this response incorrect and overly interventionist. Choice D reason: Telegraphic speech, common in 3-year-olds, involves short phrases with essential words (e.g., “want go potty”), omitting articles or connectors. This is a normal developmental stage as toddlers simplify language to communicate effectively, aligning with the described speech pattern, making this the correct response.