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Language is the understanding and use of words, grammar and sentences. Speech Pathologists can help children with language learning impairments to better understand language and to use language to express themselves.
What is language?
Language is the understanding and use of words, grammar and sentences.
There are three aspects of language:
- Receptive Language. This refers to the ability to understand language. For example, a child’s ability to comprehend what words mean and to carry out instructions appropriate to their age and stage of development.
- Expressive Language. This refers to the ability to use language to express ideas. For example, being able to tell an ordered, detailed story, use words in the right order in a sentence and use correct grammar and vocabulary. These skills develop with increasing age. The skills expected from a 2 –3 year old child are very different to those expected from a child who is 6 – 7 years of age.
- Pragmatics This refers to the social function of language. It includes the ability to maintain eye contact, to initiate and take turns in a conversation, tell relevant, logical stories and use language appropriate to the speaking situation.
What causes a language learning impairment?
- Hearing difficulties – children can suffer from fluctuating hearing levels due to middle ear infections and wax compaction.
This can mean that children may not pick up on all of the language that they are hearing in their environment.
- Hereditary – a family history of speech and language difficulties
- Environmental causes
- Intellectual disability
- Unknown causes
What are the consequences of a language learning difficulty?
- Children may have difficulty understanding what has been said to them or following instructions
- Difficulty telling stories/ giving news
- Trouble using correct sentence order and grammar for their age.
This means that children have trouble expressing themselves accurately and specifically
- Limited knowledge of word meanings for their age, again making it difficult for them to express themselves
- All problems with expressive language can lead to reduced self confidence and difficulties in social relationships
How can a Speech Pathologist help?
Speech Pathologists can help children with language learning impairments to better understand language and to use language to express themselves. They also assist children with the pragmatic or social aspects of language.
Speech Pathologists train parents to help their children with receptive, expressive and pragmatic language.
When should you see a Speech Pathologist?
Children first learn to use sounds, then single words, then two word sentences and so on. Sentence length and complexity continue to develop as the child matures.
Consider contacting a Speech Pathologist:
- If your child is not babbling or using a variety of sounds by 9 months of age
- If your child is not using single words by 18 months
- If your child is not using 2 word sentences by 2 ˝ years
- If your child is not using correct sentence structure by 4 ˝ years
- If your child is having difficulty understanding what has been said to them or trouble following instructions
- If your child has periods when they do not appear to hear well
- If your child does not understand the rules of simple conversations. E.g. if they do not make any eye contact, or if they are unable to take a short turn in a conversation by 3 years
Contact details for Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service Speech Pathology are on this website.
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