An expressive language disorder is characterized by difficulty communicating through speech or writing. Children may have difficulty getting their meaning or message across to their communication partners. It can impact their ability to organize ideas, use the correct grammar, or use vocabulary appropriately. 

Signs and Symptoms:

• Difficulty naming objects
• Trouble putting words together to form sentences
• Using words incorrectly 
• Having a reduced vocabulary 
• Using vague words (e.g., “stuff”, “this”) 
• Difficulty producing correct verb tenses (e.g., past, present, future)

A receptive language disorder is characterized by difficulty understanding spoken or written language. Children may have difficulty following directions, comprehending conversations, or understanding the meaning of words and sentences. 

Signs and Symptoms:

• Trouble following multi-step directions 
• Difficulty answering questions
• Trouble identifying objects or pictures
• Misunderstanding what’s said 
• Not comprehending jokes 
• Interrupting people who are speaking 

At One Speech Therapy, our licensed speech-language pathologists will give your child strategies and skills that help them use words to tell others what they think, feel, and know. Our speech therapists will increase your child’s understanding of vocabulary words, directions, and complex sentences. We will provide parent education on ways to strengthen your child’s language skills across a variety of settings (e.g., home, grocery stores, parks). Early identification and intervention are essential in supporting a child’s language development to support social interactions, academic performance, and overall communication abilities.