Many children present with language difficulties (delay or disorder). The language difficulty can be expressive language disorder (the language they use when they talk) or receptive language disorder (their understanding and comprehension of language). Some children have difficulties with both. This can have very serious effects on the wellbeing of the child if they are unable to express themselves or unable to understand what is going on around them. Approximately three quarters of children with identified emotional and behavioural difficulties have significant language deficits. Many children with language difficulties or delay also have other difficulties associated with their language impairment and communication. However, some children have a specific language impairment that has no other contributing factors. If you suspect your child has a language difficulty refer them to a speech and language pathologist/ therapist for assessment.

How we learn language

Learning language is a complex process, but for most children it comes quite naturally in the first few years of life. We learn words and their meaning before we start to use them properly. This means that in the early years of life the size of child’s receptive language (the amount of words they know and understand) is greater than their expressive language (the amount of words they use when speaking). An important factor in the acquisition of good language skills is the language environment that the children plays and learns in. Lots of quality interaction and play with other children and adults is great for language development. Lots of time in front of the TV with a dummy (pacifier) in the mouth is really not beneficial for developing language skills. Developing good listening and attention skills is one of the building blocks of good language development, so that is another reason to decrease time in front of the television.

Speech and literacy development is linked to the development of language and often children will have combined difficulties in all these areas. Our icommunicate website will describe how these skills inter-link and what activities you can do with your child to promote learning in all these areas.

If you have concerns about your child’s language development you should contact your local speech and language pathologist / therapist (SLTP) for language assessment and language therapy. The SLTP will assess your child, carry out necessary therapy and offer you advice and programs to improve your child’s language skills. Assessment will possibly involve formal and informal testing which will allow the SLTP to tailor appropriate therapy activities and programmes accordingly.