What Is a Language Disorder?
Language disorder is a condition seen in children where they face problems either in conveying their message or in understanding what others are saying. A language disorder occurs when the child is unable to process thoughts, ideas, and messages using language. This type is known as an expressive language disorder. The receptive language disorder is when the child faces difficulty in understanding what is communicated to them using language. The child may sometimes have both types together, or else they may have either of them. The lack of understanding or expression of language does not always mean that the child has a language disorder; it may be due to speech delay too.
What Are the Types of Language Disorders?
The child is supposed to achieve certain things and learn the language by a certain language. At around 15 months of age, the child will be able to recognize five to ten people when the parents name them. And at around 18 months of age, the child will start to respond to simple instructions given. So when the child is unable to do them by around 25 months of age, then the child is said to have some type of language disorder.
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Receptive Language Disorder- Receptive language disorder is when the child struggles to understand the messages communicated to or around them. Receptive difficulties may be observed when a child does not understand oral communication directed at or around them. Children with receptive challenges will usually display these difficulties before four. In such cases, the child struggles to understand the spoken conversations or instructions. Likewise, written words may be difficult to process. Simple gestures to come, go, or sit still may also prove challenging to comprehend.
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Expressive Language Disorders- Expressive language disorders is when the child cannot use language to communicate their thoughts or feelings. Oral communication is one of the affected areas. These children might even find it difficult to communicate in writing too. These children will find it difficult to name objects, tell stories, or make gestures to communicate a point. This disorder can result in difficulty with asking or answering questions and may lead to improper grammar usage when communicating.
What Are the Symptoms of Language Disorder?
The symptoms of children with receptive disorders are:
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Difficulty understanding spoken words.
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Difficulty in following spoken directions.
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Difficulty in organizing thoughts.
Children with expressive language disorders have the following traits:
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Struggling to frame a sentence with words.
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Speaking with simple and short words.
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Arranging words in a skewed manner.
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Difficulty in using correct words when speaking.
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Use placeholders like ‘er’ when speaking.
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Skipping over important words when communicating.
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Misusing tenses.
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Repeating the same phrases or questions when answering.
What Are the Causes of Language Disorders?
Children with language disorders do not develop the normal skills essential for speech and language. The exact cause of language disorders is unknown, because of which they are often termed developmental disorders.
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Disabilities or Brain Injury- Even though the exact cause of the condition is unknown, certain factors have strong links to these conditions, like other developmental disorders like autism and hearing loss commonly occur with language disorders. Similarly, a child with learning disabilities can have language disorders. Another condition that develops from damage to the part of the brain responsible for language is aphasia which is linked to language disorder. Aphasia can also occur because of stroke, head injury, and brain injury.
How Are Language Disorders Diagnosed?
To diagnose any language disorder, the first thing to do is to receive a doctor’s assessment of the condition. A speech-language pathologist or a neuropsychologist advises certain tests so as to understand the child’s levels of language reception and expression.
How Are Language Disorders Treated?
The treatment of this disorder requires the collective efforts of parents, teachers, speech-language pathologists, and other health professionals.
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Medical Examination- The first step to be taken is to consult the doctor for a full physical examination in order to rule out or diagnose the presence of other conditions, like a hearing problem or other sensory impairment.
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Language Therapy- The common treatment done for language disorders is speech and language therapy. The treatment will depend upon the age of the child and the cause and extent of the condition. The treatment will include one-on-one sessions with a speech-language therapist, or may sometimes need to attend group sessions. According to the diagnosis, the speech-language pathologist will treat it. Early diagnosis and intervention play an important role in the outcome.
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Home Care Options- The treatment may also require the parents to put effort even at home like:
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Communicate with the child clearly, slowly, and concisely, especially when asking any questions to the child.
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Give enough time for the child to respond.
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Maintain a relaxed atmosphere at home to reduce anxiety.
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Ask the child to frame sentences on their own after giving an explanation or command.
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Keep in contact with the teachers as they play a major role too in the treatment as the child may be withdrawing from participating in activities that involve talking and sharing. Prepare the child in advance for the class activities by asking the teacher about them.
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Psychological Therapy- The child may have signs of depression or anxiety due to the language disorder. In such cases, counseling may be needed to address emotional or behavioral issues.
How to Prevent a Language Disorder?
As the exact cause of this condition is unknown, it is difficult to prevent language disorders. But it is possible to reduce the impact of the condition by coordinating with a speech-language therapist and a counselor who can help the child deal with the emotional and mental health challenges.
Conclusion
Language disorder is a developmental disorder seen in children where the child finds difficulty in communication or understanding, not because of other conditions like deafness or being mute. Such cases should be identified at the right time and treatment and should be guided so as to resolve this problem.
