Language Disorders

Language disorders encompass receptive, expressive, and pragmatic language skills. Our therapists at Clear Speech and Language have the skills and training to enhance your child’s language skills, and improve their ability to comprehend and express themselves.

1

Language Based

What is a language-based learning disability?

Language-based learning disabilities are problems with age-appropriate reading, spelling, and/or writing. This disorder is not about how smart a person is. In fact most individuals diagnosed with learning disabilities have average to superior intelligence.

What are some signs or symptoms of a language-based learning disability?

Dyslexia has been used to refer to the specific learning problem of reading. The term language-based learning disability, or just learning disabilities, is better because of the relationship between spoken and written language. Many children with reading problems have spoken language problems.

The child with dyslexia has trouble almost exclusively with the written (or printed) word. The child who has dyslexia as part of a larger language learning disability has trouble with both the spoken and the written word. These problems may include difficulty with the following:

These problems may include difficulty with the following:

• Expressing ideas clearly
• Learning new vocabulary
• Understanding questions and following directions that are heard and/or read
• Recalling numbers in sequence
• Understanding and retaining the details of a story’s plot or a classroom lecture
• Reading and comprehending material
• Learning words to songs and rhymes
• Telling left from right, making it hard to read and write since both skills require this directionality
• Letters and numbers
• Learning the alphabet
• Identifying the sounds that correspond to letters, making learning to read difficult
• Mixing up the order of letters in words while writing
• Mixing up the order of numbers that are part of math calculations
• Spelling
• Memorizing the times table
• Telling time

How is a language-based learning disability diagnosed?

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is part of a team consisting of the parents/caregivers and educational professionals (i.e., teacher(s), special educators, psychologist). The SLP will evaluate spoken (speaking and listening) and written (reading and writing) language for children who have been identified by their teachers and parents as having difficulty.

What treatments are available for people with a language-based learning disability?

The goals of speech and language treatment for the child with a reading problem target the specific aspects of reading and writing that the student is missing. For example, if the student is able to read words but is unable to understand the details of what has been read, comprehension is addressed. If a younger student has difficulty distinguishing the different sounds that make up words, treatment will focus on activities that support growth in this skill area (rhyming, tapping out syllables, etc.).

Individualized programs always correspond to the school work. Materials for treatment are directly related to content from classes. The student is taught to apply newly learned language strategies to classroom activities and assignments.

Intervention with spoken language (speaking and listening) can also be designed to support the development of written language. For example, after listening to a story, the student may be asked to state and write answers to questions. He or she may be asked to give a verbal and then a written summary of the story.

He or she may be asked to give a verbal and then a written summary of the story.

Articulation (pronunciation) needs are also treated in a way that supports written language. For example, if the child is practicing saying words to improve articulation of a certain sound, he or she may be asked to read these words from a printed list.

How effective are treatments for language-based learning disabilities?

The SLP consults with both educators and parents to teach and model language activities that promote success.

He or she may:

• Explain the importance of joint book reading and provide demonstration lessons (e.g., describing actions labeling items to improve vocabulary).
• Model how to sharpen comprehension skills by asking questions related to a story plot and having the child predict what may happen next in the story.
• Have the child retell a story in his or her own words or act out the story.
• Teach how to increase the child’s awareness of print in his or her environment (e.g., recognition of frequently encountered signs and logos) and the conventions of print (e.g., how to hold a book or how reading and writing are done from left to right).
• Demonstrate strategies to teach letters and their corresponding sounds.
• Show ways that teachers and parents can model literacy activities.

Learning problems should be addressed as early as possible. Many children with learning disabilities that are treated later, when language demands are greater, experience lowered self-esteem due to their previous academic frustrations and failures. Learning problems that go untreated can lead to a significant decrease in confidence, school phobia, and depression.

2

Preschool

What are preschool language disorders?

Preschool children (3 to 5 years old) with language disorders may have trouble understanding and talking.

What are some signs or symptoms of preschool language disorders?

Some children have problems with understanding (receptive language). They may have trouble:

• Understanding the meaning of gestures
• Following directions
• Answering questions
• Identifying objects and pictures
• Taking turns when talking with others

Some children have problems talking (expressive language). They may have trouble:

• Asking questions
• Naming objects
• Using gestures
• Putting words together to form sentences
• Learning songs and rhymes
• Using correct pronouns, such as “he” or “she”
• Knowing how to start a conversation and keep it going

Many children have problems with both understanding and talking. Some children also have trouble with early reading and writing, such as:

• Holding a book right side up
• Looking at pictures in a book and turning pages
• Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and an end
• Naming letters and numbers
• Learning the alphabet

What if my child speaks more than one language?

Learning a second language does not cause a language disorder. Speaking more than one language in the home will not confuse the child. Speak to your child in the language that you know best. Children with language disorders will have problems with both languages.

How are preschool language disorders treated?

SLPs can help children with language disorders. They work on language problems found during the evaluation. They work with you, teachers, and other professionals to improve speech and language skills. Good language skills assist with learning, behavior, self- esteem, and social skills.

Here are some possible treatment goals:

• Increase your child’s understanding and use of language
• Teach caregivers, family members, and teachers ways to communicate with your child
• Help your child use other ways to communicate when needed. This may include simple gestures, picture boards, or computers that say words out loud. This is also called augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

What are the types of preschool language disorders?

Problems with understanding are called receptive language disorders. Problems with talking are called expressive language disorders. Children may have problems with both. Sometimes a language disorder is called specific language impairment (SLI).

Types of preschool language disorders may include problems with:

• Understanding basic concepts, questions, and directions
• Learning new words
• Saying words in the right order
• Having conversations and telling stories

3

Selective Mutism

What is selective mutism?

Selective mutism usually begins before the age of 5 and is first noticed when the child begins school. The child with selective mutism does not speak in certain situations, such as school, but will speak at other times with family and friends.

What are some signs or symptoms of selective mutism?

Symptoms are as follows:

• consistent failure to speak in specific social situations
• not speaking interferes with school or work, or with social communication.
• lasts at least 1 month (not limited to the first month of school).
• failure to speak is not due to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort, with the spoken language required in the social situation
• not due to a communication disorder (e.g., stuttering). It does not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder (PPD), schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder.
• Changes in voice quality, such as hoarse or breathy voice or speech that sounds “nasal” or “stuffy”

Selective mutism is described in the 2000 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-IV-TR: pp.125-127).

Children with selective mutism may also show:

• anxiety disorder (e.g., social phobia)
• excessive shyness
• fear of social embarrassment
• social isolation and withdrawal

What treatments are available for individuals with selective mutism?

The type of intervention offered by an SLP will differ depending on the needs of the child and his or her family. The child’s treatment may use a combination of strategies, tailored to the child’s needs.

4

Autism

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disability. Children with autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD, have social, communication and language problems. They also have restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, echolalia, or excessive smelling or touching of objects. Autism may be mild or severe. All children with autism do not have the exact same problems. Children with autism may have the following social and communication skills and common behaviors:

Social Skills

Your child may have problems using social skills to connect with other people. He may seem to be in his own world. It may be hard for him to:

• share a common focus with another person about the same object or event-known as joint attention;
• play with others and share toys;
• understand feelings;
• make and keep friends.

Communication Skills

Your child may have trouble with communication skills like understanding, talking with others, reading or writing. Sometimes, she might lose words or other skills that she’s used before. Your child may have problems:

• understanding and using gestures, like pointing, waving, or showing objects to others;
• following directions;
• understanding and using words;
• having conversations;
• learning to read or write. Or she may read early but without understanding the meaning—called hyperlexia.

Your child also may:

• repeat words just heard or words heard days or weeks earlier-called echolalia;
• talk with little expression or use a sing-song voice;
• use tantrums to tell you what he does or does not want.

Common Behaviors

A child with autism may

• have trouble changing from one activity to the next;
• flap hands, rock, spin or stare;
• like only a few foods;