How to Know If Your Child Has an Expressive Language Disorder
Do you know how to tell the difference between a child who is simply slow to speak and one who has an expressive language disorder? Many parents don't, but identifying early signs is essential for your child to get help. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of expressive language disorder and provide tips for how you can help your child overcome it.
What Is An Expressive Language Disorder?
Signs That Your Child May Have An Expressive Language Disorder
Tips For Helping Your Child Overcome An Expressive Language Disorder
Resources To Help You Learn More About Expressive Language Disorders
What Is An Expressive Language Disorder?
An expressive language disorder (ELD) is a condition that affects a person's ability to communicate effectively. This can be due to various factors, such as difficulty understanding or forming words, speaking in incomplete sentences, and using the wrong words. If you think your child could have an expressive language disorder, getting help immediately is crucial.
Signs That Your Child May Have An Expressive Language Disorder
A few key signs may indicate your child has an expressive language disorder. If your child is struggling with the following, it's worth talking to your doctor or a speech-language pathologist for their opinion.
Difficulty finding the right words
If your child struggles to find the right words to express themselves, it may indicate an expressive language disorder. They may have trouble coming up with the word they want or use made-up words instead. This can make it difficult for them to communicate with others and lead to problems in school.
Trouble putting thoughts into words
If your child has trouble putting their thoughts into words or using sign language, it may be because they have difficulty processing what they want to say. As a result, they may speak in incomplete sentences or use filler words like "um" and "uh." This can frustrate your child and those around them, making communication difficult.
Difficulty following directions
If your child has difficulty following directions, it could be because they have trouble understanding what you're saying. This is often a sign that they are struggling with receptive language skills.
Trouble with social skills
If your child struggles with social skills, such as making eye contact, it may be because they struggle to communicate with others. This can signify that they do not understand what others are saying or are having trouble expressing themselves.
Frustration
If your child seems frustrated when trying to communicate, it may be because they struggle to express themselves. They even hesitate to communicate with other children. This frustration can manifest itself in behaviors such as tantrums or meltdowns.
Delay in speech development
Delay in speech development is included in expressive language disorder signs. This delay can be in any speech area, such as receptive language (understanding words) or expressive language (using words).
If you notice these signs in your child, you must talk to your doctor or a speech-language pathologist. They will be able to assess your child and provide you with more information about whether or not they have an expressive language disorder.
Tips For Helping Your Child Overcome An Expressive Language Disorder
Talking to your child often can help them improve their communication skills, as well as their vocabulary. You are exposing them to new words and phrases by talking to them frequently, which will help them learn and grow.
Not only will talking to your child help them with their communication skills, but it will also help you build a strong relationship. So talk to your child often – they'll appreciate it! It will help to recover from any spoken language disorders.
Read with them
Reading with your child is a great way to help them develop their language skills. It also gives you a chance to model proper communication for them. Not only will they learn how to read and write, but they will also learn about the world around them. Reading with your child can be a fun activity and help improve their academic performance.
Write with them
When you write with your child, ensuring the content is exciting and informative is essential. By doing so, you'll help them to develop their language skills while also providing them with valuable information. In addition, be sure to model proper communication for your child. This will help them to learn how to communicate with others effectively.
Play with them
Playing with your child is a great way to help them develop communication skills. It also allows you to bond with them and build a strong relationship. Playing games is a fun way to spend time together and can help your child learn new things.
Some games that are good for developing communication skills include guessing, role-playing, and problem-solving games. You can also use props to make games more exciting and fun. Props can be anything from puppets to toy cars.
Encourage them
It's essential to encourage your child when they are trying to communicate. This will help them feel confident and motivated to continue developing their language skills. Language development is significant for a child's overall growth and development, so it's crucial to ensure your child feels supported in their efforts.
Get help from a professional
Expressive language skills are essential for children to develop, allowing them to communicate effectively with others. If you're concerned that your child may be struggling with expressive language skills, getting help from a speech therapist is essential.
A speech therapist will be able to assess your child and provide you with more information about their condition. They can also give you tips on how to help your child best. Some strategies you may want to try to include are using visual aids, providing practice opportunities, and facilitating communication between your child and others.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's expressive language skills, don't hesitate to contact a professional for help. You can help your child overcome this condition and develop strong communication skills by getting early intervention.
Resources To Help You Learn More About Expressive Language Disorders
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is an excellent resource for information about communication disorders. They have a variety of fact sheets and publications that you can read to learn more about expressive language disorders.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is another excellent resource for information about communication disorders.
Expressive language disorders can be frustrating for both children and parents. However, it's important to remember that with early intervention and proper treatment, most children with this condition can develop strong communication skills. If you think your child may have an expressive language disorder, don't hesitate to contact a professional for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age is expressive language disorder diagnosed?
Most children with developmental expressive language disorder are diagnosed between 3 and 8.
What causes an expressive language disorder?
The exact cause of expressive language disorder is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
How is expressive language disorder treated?
Expressive language disorder is treated with various therapies, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
What are the long-term effects of expressive language disorder in children?
If left untreated, expressive language disorder can cause problems in school, home, and social situations. It will affect a child's language development. However, with early intervention and proper treatment, most children with this condition can overcome these difficulties.
Is expressive language disorder a disability?
Expressive language disorder is not a disability but can cause problems in school, home, and social situations. However, thanks to early intervention and appropriate therapy, most children may overcome these problems.
Do kids grow out of language disorders?
Most children with expressive language disorder will improve with early intervention and proper treatment. However, some children may continue to have difficulty with communication skills into adolescence and adulthood.
What is the difference between an expressive and receptive language disorder?
An expressive language disorder affects a person's ability to communicate effectively. Expressive language disorder occurs due to various factors, such as difficulty understanding or forming words, speaking in incomplete sentences, and using the wrong words.
A receptive language disorder affects a person's ability to understand spoken or written language. This can be due to difficulties understanding what people are saying, following directions, and remembering what they have read.
Connected Speech Pathology: How We Can Help Your Child
If your child is having difficulty communicating, our team at Connected Speech Pathology can help. We can assess your child's speech and language skills and develop a treatment plan to help them improve. We also offer support for families to help you better understand your child's speech problem and how to support them.
Speech and language difficulties can significantly impact a child's life. They can affect their ability to learn at school, make friends, and participate in activities they enjoy. We aim to help your child overcome these difficulties to lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Please contact us if you think your child might benefit from our services. We offer a free initial consultation so you can learn more about what we do and how we can help your child.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation if you're interested in working with an expert from our team. We'll be happy to answer any questions you have.
Learn more about our services for Expressive Language Disorders
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
