Language Delay
Space City Speech
Language development affects your child’s behavior, social interactions, and learning capacity. A language delay happens when a child’s language is developing less advanced than their peers. Language delays, such as expressive language delay, can be hard for children.
It can be concerning when your child’s language skills appear to be slower than kids of the same age. The more you find out about expressive language delay, the faster you respond and carry out what’s best for your child. Knowing more concerning the signs of language delay will make dealing with it less alarming.
What is expressive language delay?
Expressive language delay means that a child has a hard time expressing themselves or presenting information using language and other forms of communication such as sign language, gestures, and writing. Children understand what other people are talking about; however, they have difficulty using language when they speak.
For children with expressive language disorder, expressing themselves in the normal setting is a never-ending battle. Some have problems applying the right vocabulary and combining words to create sentences. Others have trouble sequencing detail together logically.
In addition, it’s usually that they will miss important milestones in their early years, unlike their equals. Most families describe expressive language delay as kids being late talkers.
“just wow”
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“i’ll never go anywhere else”
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“Life changing”
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What causes expressive language delay?
The specific cause of expressive language delay is not fully identified, though it can be a primary disability or associated with other complications. It generally has nothing to do with a child’s level of intelligence. Some of the prevalent conditions linked to language delays are:
- Brain injury, or tumor
- Developmental disorders like autism
- Birth problems, such as low birth weight or premature birth
- Congenital disabilities, like cerebral palsy or down syndrome
- Trauma
- Hearing impairment
- Family history of speech or language problems
Some kids with expressive language delay will have an accompanying ‘receptive’ language disorder, indicating a problem understanding language. Often, however, the cause is unknown.
Symptoms of expressive language delays
The condition may develop alone or with other language impairments. The symptoms are typically limited to language problems and poor word memory.
Children with expressive language delay have problems putting words together to make proper phrases and sentences. They usually create far shorter sentences than their peers, and their language is limited and simpler.
Here’s a more detailed review of some problems children with this condition are likely to have.
- Problem combining words into sentences and in the proper sequence
- Use sentences that appear childish or below vocabulary level for their age
- Use sentences that are shorter than others of the same age
- Have trouble identifying objects and items
- Have a Hard time understanding figurative languages, like hyperboles, metaphors, and idioms
- Use lingo
- Problem obtaining the proper word and uses filler such as ‘er’ or ‘ah’ as they cognitively look for it
- Using non-specific vocabulary, for example, “this’ and ‘that’
- Have difficulty retelling a story
- Have a problem writing paragraphs and stories
- Jumbling word tense
- Sounding reluctant when trying to communicate
- Not know how to use language to socialize with other children properly
- Leaving words out of sentences
- Repeating phrases or parts of sentences
Individuals with expressive language delays refrain from talking completely. They may find it so upsetting or stressful that others will bully or criticize them. They may prefer not to interact or communicate with classmates or friends. Hence, they give the impression of being cold or reserved.
Treatment for expressive language disorder
If your child is diagnosed with expressive language delay, speech and language therapy is the most reliable way to treat the condition.
An equipped speech therapist will evaluate your child during the initial consultation to develop a customized course of action. This will then be accompanied by speech therapy sessions, increasing every week, slowly improving your child’s language skills, and boosting self-esteem.
How is it diagnosed?
To be diagnosed with expressive language delay, individuals need to be evaluated by a speech-language pathologist. Such conditions are usually diagnosed in children ages 3 to 5, though people of any age can be diagnosed.
To diagnose expressive language delay, a child must be performing lower than other kids of their age at activities that need verbal communication. This can be not easy to perceive since it should be pointed out that a child understands the material, though cannot express that knowledge. Hence, non-verbal tests must be done, along with tests that need verbal answers.
The hearing must also be assessed, as kids who don’t hear properly may have difficulties constructing sentences, same as children with an expressive language delay.
Additionally, children who speak a different language besides English in the home must ideally be examined in that vocabulary. The child’s ability to express in English may be the obstacle, not the child’s skills to communicate as a whole.
Suppose your child is a bit young and doesn’t yet know how to write. In that case, the SLP will carry out an evaluation either in a one-on-one context or a group play setting, noting how the child interacts with others, listens to and follows instructions, and apprehends and repeats the names of items.
How to help my child with expressive language delay
There are many fun ways you can help your child with expressive language delay and work on communication and conversation skills.
Recasting
Recasting is the easiest and most effective way a parent can help their child learn a language. It occurs when a parent responds to a child’s statement by applying the proper form while still maintaining the essence of the child’s statement. There are two types of recast: expansion and extension.
- Expansion: You repeat what the child says and add missing words to make it more grammatically correct. For example, when your child utters “dog play,” you may expand it by uttering, “The dog is playing.”
- Extension: Respond to the child’s utterance by providing a little more information connected to what the child had said. For example: “Girl smile,” you say, “The girl is happy.”
Self-Talk
Self-talk is when you use child-friendly language to describe what you are doing inside the house; narrating what you are thinking, seeing, hearing, and touching. For example, “I’m baking. I’m making a chocolate cake.”
Parallel Talk
When executing parallel talk, describe what your child is doing, eating, touching, or seeing. For this approach, you will only recount your child’s actions. For example, “You are drawing a tree. Wow! It’s a huge tree!”
During the parallel talk, you are not putting any commands on the child but instead giving detailed and relevant language models.
Have questions?
Virtual Speech Therapy is a convenient resource that will assist you or your loved one in developing language and communication skills wherever you are. Delivering speech therapy to an online context reduces such difficulties as travel, lobbies, and lost time.
If you want a briefing kit including quotes or have some inquiries regarding obtaining online speech therapy for your child or loved one and wish to talk, please don’t hesitate to call me at (540) 325-6375. You may also email me at he***@*************ch.com.
Concerned about Expressive Language Delay?
Space City Speech offers speech therapy services for individuals of any age who struggle with their expressive language. No matter what your requirements are, Space City Speech is here to help!
Would you like to know more about our speech therapy? Set up a free virtual consultation with our speech pathologist. Call us at (540) 325-6375 to book a complimentary consultation.