Language Disorder
Children are diagnosed with a language disorder when they have ongoing difficulty with the meaning of words or sentences (semantics), with word order or grammar (syntax), or with the social rules of language and conversation (pragmatics).
Cause
Language problems can be caused by hearing loss, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, an auditory processing disorder (APD), environmental deprivation, or neurological damage or dysfunction. Often, the cause cannot be directly identified.
Symptoms
A language disorder can be characterized by any of the following:
- Poor eye contact or attention to the speech of others by 4 months
- Absence of gestures at the age of 6 to 8 months
- Difficulty understanding the speech of others or following simple directions at the age of 12 months
- Absence of words or limited vocabulary at 16-18 months
- Absence of two- word combinations by 24-26 months
- Echoing words or phrases at age 3
- Use of incomplete sentences by age 3
- Inability to retell stories or talk about past events at age 3 to 4
- Difficulty with attention, memorization of facts, learning, or reading at 6 to 7
Treatment
A hearing screening or audiology evaluation is recommended prior to a speech evaluation to rule out hearing loss. Speech and language skills are evaluated using standardized tests, parent reports, and clinical observation of play and communication activities. Social interactions, play skills, and behavior are also evaluated. Sometimes a referral to other specialists for evaluation and/or treatment is also necessary.
Young children often learn language best through play. Therapy can involve play-based activities that target the child's therapeutic goals. With older children, therapy may be centered around structured and unstructured activities. The length of therapy depends on the cause and severity of the problem, the child's motivation, and the amount of therapeutic practice at home between sessions.
When to Call the Doctor
Review the symptoms above. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician about a referral to the Speech Pathology Department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 513-636-4341.
Why Cincinnati Children's?
As a national leader in pediatric speech pathology, Cincinnati Children's has a program for the treatment of language disorders. This program is staffed by speech-language pathologists who have undergone specific specialty training. We welcome referrals from primary care providers and specialty physicians.
Contact Us
For more information, contact the Speech Pathology Department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 513-636-4341, speech@cchmc.org.
Rev. 11/07
