Language Disorders
Receptive Language Disorder
According to the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA), some children have problems understanding, called receptive language. They may have trouble:
- Understanding what people mean when they use gestures, like shrugging or nodding
- Following directions
- Answering questions
- Pointing to objects and pictures
- Knowing how to take turns when talking with others
Expressive Language Disorder
Some children have problems talking, called expressive language. They may have trouble:
- Asking questions
- Naming objects
- Using gestures
- Putting words together into sentences
- Learning songs and rhymes
- Using correct pronouns, like "he" or "they"
- Knowing how to start a conversation and keep it going
Visit ASHA.org for more information.
Assessing Language Disorders
Speech therapy for language disoders typically begins with an assessment. Receptive and expressive language assessment will depend on various factors including the client’s age, severity of the injury, and level of consciousness.
It is important to obtain a thorough case history in order to gather information such as the type of head injury, date of onset, and cerebral areas that are affected.