Language Disorders

A child may have a language disorder if he has difficulty attaching meaning language coming in and difficulty getting his meaning across through speech, writing, or even gestures.

There are three main types of language disorders.

1. Receptive Language Disorder: When a child struggles to understand and process the messages and information they receive from others. Receptive language is the “input” of language. It is the ability to understand and comprehend spoken language that you hear or read. For example, a child’s ability to listen and follow directions, relies on the child’s receptive language skills. Children who have difficulty understanding language may struggle with the following:

• Following directions

• Answering questions

• Identifying objects and pictures

• Weak reading comprehension

• Difficulty understanding stories

2. Expressive Language Disorder: When a child has difficulty formulating and expressing himself. Expressive language is the “output” of language and is the ability to express your wants and needs through verbal or nonverbal communication. A child that has adequate expressive language skills has the ability to put thoughts into words and sentences in a way that makes sense and is grammatically correct. Children who have expressive language disorders may:

·         Have a limited vocabulary

·         Use vague words (i.e. “thing”, “that”)

·         Present with word retrieval deficits

·         Difficulty expressing thoughts and ideas

·         Difficulty retelling experiences or stories

·         Demonstrates incorrect usage of grammar

·         Difficulty asking and answering questions appropriately

3. Mixed receptive-expressive language issues: People struggle with both using and understanding language.

 Pragmatic Language Impairment or Social Communication Disorder, is another kind of language disorder that also falls under the umbrella of a language disorder. It is a condition in which someone has difficulty with the social uses of verbal and nonverbal communication. Individuals struggle to effectively engage in social interactions, interpret social cues, and use language appropriately in social contexts.

Pragmatic language comprises three major skills:

• Use of language for a specific purpose, like to make a request or statement

• Changing your language depending on the person you’re talking to or the situation you’re in, like speaking differently to a teacher than to your baby brother.

• Following social rules for conversations, like taking turns talking,, respecting personal space, and understanding body language

 Language disorders are often developmental, as they start in early childhood and continue into adulthood. It should be noted that language disorders are not a matter of intelligence but it may make it challenging to learn and connect with other people. Language disorder often runs in families. A child is more likely to have language disorder if they have a parent or sibling who also has it. 

How is a language disorder diagnosed?

A Speech and Language Pathologist will administer a few tests to children struggling with language to determine if there are expressive and/or receptive language deficits. A child is diagnosed if they cannot communicate as well as other children their age.

How is language disorder treated?

Language disorder is best treated with speech and language therapy. 

However, there is an incredible amount that parents can do to assist their child in developing appropriate receptive and language skills.

Some tips for parents:

1. Read, read and read to your child. When they can and are motivated to read on their own, then it’s your job to provide them with high interest books that are on their current reading level. See book list.

2. Only give instructions when you have their eye contact and break down the instructions into small steps. Ask them to repeat the instruction you gave them to you.

3. Encourage imaginative play in young children

For a real comprehensive guide in how to help your child with language deficits, take our awesome AUDIO COURSES!

Also, check out our:

1. Games for Receptive Language skills

2. Games for Expressive Language skills