Language Disorders

Epidemiology of Speech Delay

• Common childhood problem
• Affects 3 to 10 percent of children.
• 3-4X more common in boys than in girls.

Most common causes of speech delay

• Mental retardation
• Hearing loss
• Maturation delay

Overview of major types of language disorders

• Need to understand normal language and prelanguage development
• See Table 10.1 on 320
• May involve comprehension (understanding) or expression in written or spoken language
• These are very complex to diagnose and treat

Language and Brain

Language disorders

• Expressive language disorders
• Receptive language disorders
• Aphasia – loss of the ability to speak or comprehend language because of an injury or developmental abnormality in the brain

EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE DISORDER (developmental expressive aphasia)

• Fail to develop the use of speech at the usual age.

EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE DISORDER

• Normal intelligence
• Normal hearing
• Good emotional relationships
• Normal articulation skills.
• Comprehension of speech is appropriate to the age of the child

EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE DISORDER

• Brain dysfunction that results in an inability to translate ideas into speech.

EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE DISORDER

• The child is at risk for language-based learning disabilities (dyslexia).
• May use gestures to supplement their limited verbal expression .

Maturation Delay vs. Expressive Language Disorder?

• The late bloomer will eventually develop normal speech
• The child with an expressive language disorder will not do so without intervention.

Maturation Delay vs. Expressive Language Disorder?

• It is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish at an early age a late bloomer from a child with an expressive language disorder.