Language is a key part of how we communicate, helping us express our thoughts, needs, and ideas. But for some people, understanding or using language can be difficult. This is known as a language disorder, which can affect both children and adults. In this blog, we’ll break down what language disorders are, their types, and how they can be managed.

What are Language Disorders?

A language disorder happens when a person has trouble understanding or using language the way most people of their age do. This can affect speaking, understanding words, or both. There are three main types of language disorders:

Expressive language disorder

This type affects how a person expresses themselves. They might struggle to form sentences, use proper grammar, or find the right words. It can be difficult for them to share their thoughts clearly. This may include: limited vocabulary, difficulty forming complete sentences, and trouble finding the right words.

Receptive language disorder

This affects a person’s ability to understand language. Someone with this disorder may not be able to follow directions or understand what others are saying. This may include: difficulty understanding spoken or written language, trouble following directions, and misunderstanding questions or requests.

Mixed Receptive-Expressive language disorder

This is when someone has difficulty both understanding and using language. This may include difficulty following directions, misunderstanding questions, trouble expressing their thoughts and ideas, and limited vocabulary.

How are language disorders treated at a private practice?

After a comprehensive speech and language evaluation from our team, your child will have personalized goals tailored to their language concerns. Depending on the age and degree of concern, clinicians may work on storytelling skills, increasing vocabulary, sentence structure, and following directions. At our clinic, we incorporate books and games to target language concerns, while still having fun! Clinicians will also collaborate with your family to carry-over language skills into the home. This may be modeling sentences for your child, reading books before bed, or expanding on what your child already said.

How do I go about getting services for my child?

At Grow with Words, we typically start with a free 15-minute phone consultation with a Speech-Language Pathologist. This allows us to answer any questions you may have and determine whether or not your child could benefit from speech therapy services. If we (our SLP/your family unit) decide that some therapeutic intervention may benefit your child, we will suggest starting with a comprehensive evaluation, which allows us to fully assess and understand your child's individual strengths and areas of need, allowing us to create a comprehensive plan of care.

Call us at (602) 345-1785 for more information, or click here to schedule a free 15 minute consultation with one of our speech-language pathologists today.

Growing with you, 

Grow With Words Team