Understanding Expressive Language Disorder: Adults Guide
Expressive language disorder is a type of communication disorder that affects verbal communication and written expression. It affects an individual's ability to effectively convey thoughts, ideas, or feelings. While often diagnosed in children, it can persist into adulthood or emerge due to various factors.
This comprehensive guide discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for expressive language disorder in adults.
Key Takeaways:
Causes of Expressive Language Disorder in Adults: Includes developmental history, neurological conditions, emotional/ psychological factors, and genetic factors.
Symptoms of Expressive Language Disorder: Struggles to form sentences, limited vocabulary, repetition, disorganized thoughts, writing issues, and communication-related frustration.
Diagnosing Expressive Language Disorder: This may involve language assessments, medical history reviews, and neurological exams.
Treatment Options for Expressive Language Disorder: Speech and language therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Strategies for Managing Expressive Language Disorder: Regular practice, using technology, seeking support, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Causes of Expressive Language Disorder in Adults
Symptoms of Expressive Language Disorder
Diagnosing Expressive Language Disorder
Treatment Options for Expressive Language Disorder
Strategies for Managing Expressive Language Disorder
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help Adults with Expressive Language Disorders
Causes of Expressive Language Disorder in Adults
Expressive language disorder in adults can stem from various causes. One potential cause is a language processing disorder, which affects a person's ability to express and comprehend language.
Other causes include brain injury, stroke, or neurological conditions such as dementia. Understanding the root cause is crucial for effective treatment and management.
Developmental History
Some adults may have a history of developmental language disorder from childhood that persists into adulthood. These developmental issues may have gone unaddressed or inadequately treated, leading to continued challenges in expressive language as they age.
Neurological Conditions
Neurological conditions such as stroke, brain injury, traumatic brain injury, or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's can result in expressive language issues. These conditions are often classified as an acquired language disorder.
Genetic Factors
A family history of language disorders can increase the likelihood of experiencing similar issues. Genetic predisposition can play a significant role in developing expressive language disorder, influencing how language skills are acquired and maintained.
Symptoms of Expressive Language Disorder
Difficulty Constructing Sentences: Adults with expressive language disorder often struggle to construct grammatically correct sentences. They may omit words, use incorrect tense, arrange words in an unconventional order., or substitute related words. They may have difficulty constructing complex sentences such as compound sentences or those that use subordinate clauses (clauses that depend on another clause for meaning, like "when I went to the store" or "although it was raining").
Limited Vocabulary and Word-Finding Difficulties: These individuals may have a limited vocabulary and trouble finding the right words to express themselves. This can lead to pauses, repetitions, or using vague words.
Repetition of Phrases or Words: Repetition of phrases or words is common, as individuals may repeat themselves to convey their message clearly.
Trouble Organizing Thoughts: Organizing thoughts can be challenging, resulting in disjointed or fragmented speech that is hard to follow.
Writing Difficulties: Expressive language disorder can also affect writing, with individuals struggling with grammar, sentence structure, and coherently presenting their ideas in written words.
Communication-Related Frustration or Anxiety: The frustration or anxiety related to communication difficulties can further exacerbate the disorder, creating a cycle of stress and impaired expression. In contrast, individuals with receptive language disorder may have trouble understanding spoken or written language.
Diagnosing Expressive Language Disorder
Language Assessments
Diagnosing expressive language disorder typically involves standardized tests for language evaluation to assess verbal and written language skills. These assessments measure various aspects of language, including vocabulary, sentence construction, and coherence. A comprehensive language assessment will also look for a history of learning disabilities and check if the person has difficulty understanding.
Medical History Review
Reviewing the individual's medical conditions and developmental and family history helps identify potential contributing factors, such as previous language difficulties, learning disabilities, emotional regulation issues, or underlying health conditions.
Neurological Exams
Neurological exams are conducted if a neurological condition is suspected to be the cause. These exams assess brain function and identify any damage or abnormalities.
Treatment Options for Expressive Language Disorder
Treatment options for expressive language disorder can also be effective for individuals with language processing disorder.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech and language therapy is the cornerstone of treatment. It focuses on improving vocabulary, sentence structure, word choice, and overall communication skills. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) will develop a treatment plan to address these skills.
Speech therapists use various techniques to enhance language production and help individuals practice effective communication strategies.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help address anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues that may impact a person's ability to communicate effectively.
Strategies for Managing Expressive Language Disorder
Work with a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): An SLP can conduct a comprehensive evaluation to identify the specific challenges and develop a personalized therapy plan. Therapy can focus on improving sentence construction, vocabulary development, and overall communication skills.
Practice Regularly: Engaging in exercises and activities designed to improve language skills is crucial. Regular practice helps reinforce learning and improve communication abilities over time.
Consider Assistive Technology: Speech-to-text apps and other technological tools can assist with communication when needed. These tools help individuals express themselves more clearly and efficiently. Additionally, various communication tools can further enhance expressive language skills.
Seek Support: Joining support groups or working with a communication partner can provide encouragement and practical help. Supportive environments foster confidence and reduce the frustration associated with language difficulties.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Good nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can positively impact cognitive functions. A healthy lifestyle supports overall brain health and can improve language processing and expression.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can adults have expressive language disorder?
Yes, an adult can have an expressive language disorder. While they are commonly diagnosed in children, the disorder can persist into adulthood if left untreated or inadequately addressed. It can also develop in adults due to neurological conditions, brain injuries, or other factors impacting language processing and production.
2. What is the difference between expressive communication and receptive communication?
Expressive language refers to the ability to convey thoughts, ideas, and feelings through speech, writing, or other forms of expression. It involves producing language that others can understand.
Receptive language skills involve the ability to understand language (spoken or written). Individuals with receptive language disorders may struggle to comprehend what others say, while those with expressive language disorders may understand but have trouble expressing.
3. How does expressive language disorder develop?
Expressive language disorder can develop in childhood due to problems with language acquisition. In adults, it can arise from brain injury, stroke, or neurological conditions. For some, it may persist from undiagnosed early childhood language difficulties.
4. What is the difference between expressive language disorder and speech disorder?
Expressive language disorder and speech disorders are both communication challenges, but they differ in what's affected. Expressive language disorder makes forming sentences and expressing thoughts difficult. Speech disorders, like articulation problems or dysarthria, focus on difficulties producing the actual sounds of speech, such as lisping or slurred speech.
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help Adults with Expressive Language Disorders
At Connected Speech Pathology, we understand the challenges of expressive language disorder. We offer specialized speech therapy services to address communication disorders.
Connected Speech Pathology provides comprehensive speech and language therapy through remote services, utilizing advanced telepractice technology. Our experienced speech-language pathologists (SLPs) conduct thorough assessments to understand each client's specific difficulties and design personalized treatment plans to target their expressive language challenges.
We have been delivering remote speech therapy services for years with excellent results. This approach allows clients to access high-quality care from the comfort of their own homes. It provides convenience and ensures consistent progress, as clients can easily integrate therapy into their daily routines.
Summary
Expressive language disorder in adults can significantly impact communication and quality of life. Understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking appropriate treatment can help manage the disorder effectively.
With the proper support and strategies, individuals with expressive language disorder can improve their communication skills and lead fulfilling lives.
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.
