I found my way into the field of speech-language pathology after obtaining my Bachelor's in math and tutoring math for ten years. As a tutor, I consistently helped students struggling in math, but I faced challenges assisting those who not only struggled in math but also had difficulties in one or multiple aspects of language. Upon completing my Master's in Speech-Language Pathology, the connection between academic success and language became evident. Language disorders can negatively impact a child's success in school and the future.
This article dives deep into language disorders and how they can impact a child's academic success:
What is a Language Disorder?
A language disorder, also known as a language learning disability (LLD), is a type of learning disability where individuals struggle with expressing ideas, comprehending concepts, and using language for reasoning and problem-solving.
Unlike general learning disabilities, language disorders specifically affect how people understand and use language. There are three main types of language disorders: receptive language disorders, expressive language disorders, and mixed expressive-receptive language disorders.
What is a Receptive Language Disorder?
A receptive language disorder occurs when someone has trouble understanding and processing the language they hear. This can include challenges with understanding words and sentences, following directions, comprehending questions, and grasping the meaning of conversations and figurative language.
People with receptive language disorders might seem like they aren't listening, but in reality, they are struggling to understand what is being said. This disorder can affect both children and adults and often requires speech therapy to improve comprehension skills.
What is an Expressive Language Disorder?
An expressive language disorder happens when someone has difficulty using language to express their thoughts, needs, or ideas. This can involve challenges with forming sentences correctly, finding the right words to say, using proper grammar, and organizing thoughts into coherent speech.
Those with expressive language disorders may speak in shorter sentences, leave out important words, have limited vocabulary or struggle to express themselves effectively. This disorder can impact both children and adults and often requires speech therapy to enhance communication skills.
What is a Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder?
A mixed receptive-expressive language disorder occurs when an individual has challenges both understanding language (receptive) and using language to express themselves (expressive). These challenges can include understanding what others say, following directions, comprehending questions and conversations, and using the right words.
Individuals with mixed receptive-expressive language disorders may struggle with both processing language and communicating their thoughts. This can impact their ability to interact with others, follow instructions, and perform well in school. Speech therapy is often needed to address both receptive and expressive language skills.
Difference Between a Receptive Language Disorder and Delay
A receptive language delay occurs when a child's language develops at a slower rate than that of their same-aged peers. In these cases, the child's receptive language skills are behind but are progressing along the typical developmental path, just at a slower pace.
In contrast, a receptive language disorder is characterized by a child struggling to understand language due to significant challenges in processing and comprehending spoken language, not just a slower rate of development. This disorder can impact a child's ability to follow directions, understand questions, and engage in conversations effectively.
While a receptive language delay suggests that the child's language ability will eventually catch up to the expected level with time and perhaps some support, a receptive language disorder typically requires specialized intervention to help the child improve their ability to understand language.
Difference Between an Expressive Language Disorder and Delay?
An expressive language delay occurs when a child's ability to produce words and communicate verbally develops at a slower rate than that of their same-aged peers. In such cases, the child's oral language skills are still progressing along the typical developmental path, just at a slower pace.
On the other hand, an expressive language disorder describes a situation where a child displays difficulty expressing themselves verbally, often using vague or wrong words due to a limited vocabulary. This disorder impacts their ability to use new vocabulary words, form sentences, and convey their thoughts effectively.
While children with language delays often catch up to their peers with time and support, children with expressive language disorders typically require specialized intervention to improve their communication skills.
How Language Disorders Can Impact a Child's Success in School
Children face various subjects in school, such as language arts, math, science, and social studies. While school can be challenging for many students, those with language disorders often find it even more difficult.
Language Disorders Can Impact a Child's Success in Language Arts
A child's success in language arts can be significantly affected by a language disorder. These classes focus on reading comprehension, writing skills, vocabulary development, and speaking and listening. Since all these skills are directly related to language, children with language disorders may struggle academically in language arts.
Language Disorders Can Impact a Child's Success in Science and Social Studies
A child's success in science and social studies can be significantly affected by a language disorder.
Understanding Vocabulary:
Complex terminology in science and social studies can be difficult for children with language disorders to grasp, affecting their comprehension of instructional materials and class discussions.
Comprehension Challenges:
From detailed experiment procedures in science to complex historical texts in social studies, children with language disorders may struggle with reading comprehension, making it difficult to learn and retain information.
Writing Difficulties:
Whether writing lab reports in science or essays in social studies, organizing thoughts and expressing ideas coherently can be challenging for children with language disorders, impacting their ability to convey knowledge effectively.
Participation and Engagement:
Active participation in discussions, following verbal instructions, and engaging in group activities are crucial in both subjects. Language disorders may impede a child's ability to listen attentively and contribute effectively.
Exam Performance:
Assessments in science and social studies often require written responses that demand strong reading comprehension and writing skills. Language disorders can pose barriers to performing well on these exams.
Understanding these challenges allows educators and parents to provide tailored support, accommodations, and strategies that empower children with language disorders to succeed academically in science and social studies.
Language Disorders Can Impact a Child's Success in Math
In the earlier years, children with language disorders might do well in math due to the focus on computation. However, as math becomes more challenging and involves word problems, these students often struggle. Their performance may decline because solving word problems requires strong receptive language skills.
Expert Tips to Help Your Child with a Language Disorder Succeed in School
Understand Their Needs:
Take time to understand your child's language challenges, like understanding, talking, learning new words, or putting sentences together. You might need help from a Speech-Language Pathologist to learn more about their needs.
Communication with Educators:
Keep talking with their teachers openly. Share what your child is good at and what they find hard. This helps create a supportive classroom. Ask teachers for tips that have helped your child in their classroom.
Visual Learning Tools:
Use pictures, charts, and diagrams to explain ideas in all subjects. This makes hard ideas easier to understand.
Break Down Complex Tasks:
Help your child break big assignments into smaller parts. This makes it less overwhelming and helps them understand all parts to a larger assignment.
Encourage Communication:
Encourage your child to talk about what they're learning in their own words. This helps them understand better. If they don't fully understand it, you can help fill in the missing parts.
Language Strategies:
Teach your child strategies like highlighting important words in their work, making clear sentences to explain ideas, and using context clues to help them understand and solve problems.
Collaborate with Professionals:
Work closely with Speech-Language Pathologists and teachers to make a plan that fits your child's needs for learning.
Supportive Learning Environment:
Make your home a place where learning is interesting. Encourage questions and exploring new things.
Patience:
Be patient and keep helping your child with their schoolwork. Learning with a language disorder takes time and effort.
Advocacy:
Keep speaking up for your child's needs at school. Make sure they get the help and support they need to succeed.
Expert Tips to Helping Your Teenager with a Language Disorder Succeed in School
Understanding Their Challenges:
Take the time to understand your teenager's specific language difficulties, whether they involve comprehension, self-expression, vocabulary acquisition, or sentence formation.
Effective Communication:
Maintain open communication with teachers and specialists. Share insights about your teenager's strengths and challenges to ensure they receive appropriate support and accommodations.
Breaking Down Tasks:
Assist your teenager in breaking down complex assignments into manageable steps. This approach reduces stress and helps them follow instructions more effectively across different subjects.
Collaborating with Professionals:
Work closely with speech-language pathologists and teachers to create personalized strategies and goals tailored to your teenager's academic and language needs.
Advocating for Teenagers:
Empower your teenager to actively seek and use academic accommodations and support services that meet their needs, ensuring they have equal opportunities to excel in school.
Building Independence:
Support your teenager in developing independent study habits and organizational skills to help them manage their schoolwork effectively despite their language disorder.
Life Skills Development:
Advocate for opportunities for your teenager to engage in activities outside of school that enhance their communication skills and build confidence, such as clubs, volunteer work, or part-time jobs.
How a Speech Therapist Conducts a Language Evaluation
In order to evaluate a child's language abilities, a speech evaluation may include:
Case History
The first step in a language evaluation is gathering a detailed history of the child. The speech-language pathologist will ask about the child’s speech and language development, previous language therapy, and medical history. This information helps the speech therapist understand the child’s background and any factors that may influence their communication abilities.
Receptive and Expressive Language Skills
The speech therapist will assess both receptive and expressive language skills. Receptive language skills involve understanding and processing language, while expressive language skills involve using language to communicate.
The evaluation will identify any receptive or expressive language disorders that may be present. Both formal and informal assessments will be used to examine receptive and expressive language skills.
Assessment of Written Communication
The evaluation may also include an assessment of written communication. This will provide information about the child’s ability to understand and produce written language.
The Impact of Speech Therapy on Language Disorders
Speech therapy plays a crucial role in addressing and mitigating the impact of receptive, expressive, and mixed language learning disabilities. Speech therapists work closely with individuals to enhance their ability to comprehend and express language, which can lead to significant improvements in various areas of their lives.
Enhanced Expressive Language
Through various exercises, speech therapy helps individuals develop a more robust vocabulary and articulate their thoughts more clearly. This improvement not only boosts their confidence in school or at work but also enhances their social interactions and home life.
Enhanced Receptive Language
Speech therapy employs targeted strategies to improve individuals' understanding of spoken and written language. Activities during therapy sessions may include understanding verbal instructions, comprehending written text (including math word problems), and understanding linguistic concepts. This can help individuals with language disorders better navigate academic and everyday tasks.
Improving Overall Language Development
Individuals can see improvements in many aspects of language, including grammar, syntax, and semantics. These Improvements positively impact academic or employment performance and social communication.
Speak with Stephanie: Your Partner in Overcoming Language Disorders near Skokie, Illinois
I am your local Skokie speech therapist who treats language disorders for children and adults which often cause challenges in the classroom and workplace.
Individualized speech therapy interventions:
We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we conduct a comprehensive evaluation to understand the specific areas of challenge that each individual faces.
Engaging learning, successful outcomes:
Speech therapy is fun and interactive, thus making learning more memorable. We may incorporate games and creative activities to target language. Of course, we take into account the client's age. We travel to client's homes that live near Skokie, Wilmette, and nearby Illinois neighborhoods.
Empowering parents and educators:
We don't only work with the child, but also guide their parents, educators, and other family members to ensure proper carryover into the home and classroom environment. This is crucial to maximize progress in all settings.
Collaboration with other professionals:
Speak with Stephanie understands the importance of collaboration. We work with other professionals involved with the child, such as doctors, teachers, psychologists, and other related-service providers. This ensures everyone is up to date on your child's progress.
Online Speech Therapy for Language Learning Disabilities Throughout Illinois, New York, and New Jersey
In addition to providing in-person speech therapy, we offer online speech therapy for children and adults to those who clutter throughout Illinois, New York, and New Jersey
Additional Services offered at Speak with Stephanie
In addition to treating receptive and expressive language disorders, For children, our focus includes tailored support for stuttering and cluttering disorders and articulation disorders. For adults, we provide expert assistance with communication difficulties, including articulation disorders, language disorders, aphasia, and challenges with stuttering or cluttering.
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Our personalized care is designed to meet each individual’s unique needs, fostering substantial improvements in communication skills. Through a holistic approach, we empower clients to excel in their daily interactions and reach their full potential.
About the author:
Stephanie Jeret is a Speech-Language Pathologist and the owner of Speak with Stephanie LLC. She obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degree from the City University of New York. She has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including outpatient rehabilitation, telepractice, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and a private practice. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including articulation disorders, receptive/expressive language disorders, and fluency disorders. Information is available by emailing her at stephanie@speakwithstephanie.com or by visiting www.speakwithstephanie.com.