What is a Language Disorder?

Definition: A Developmental Language Disorder is difficulty in expressive and/or receptive language skills and is observed at young ages. A language problem could have an impact on how your child behaves, learns and gets along with others. Early intervention is the key to helping your child be more successful.

Causes: Language disorders have a variety of causes. While some cases may present with environmental or genetic origins, it is useful to consider the cause as an interaction of multiple, complex factors.

• Traumatic Brain injury (TBI)
• fetal alcohol syndrome. 
• Down syndrome 
• Autism
• Intellectual disability

Treatment: Treatment for Language Disorders vary greatly based on the language domain that is impacted, age, and severity of the disorder. Working with a Speech and Language Pathologist will allow you to create a treatment plan most effective for each individual.

Resources: Visit the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association for more information on spoken language Disorders

• https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/spoken-language-disorders/ 

Definition: Acquired Language Disorders are language impairments that occur in adulthood. Two of the most common acquired language disorders include Aphasia and Right Hemisphere Disorders (RHD). 

• Aphasia: Aphasia affects your ability to communicate your thoughts easily. Aphasia may also make it hard for you to understand, read, or write. Aphasia can affect people in different ways, and no two people will have the same changes or recovery. The severity and recovery of aphasia depend on a number of things—including the cause, the extent of damage to the brain, family support, and treatment.
• RHD: Individuals with RHD experience changes to the right hemisphere of their brain. These changes result in impaired social communication skills. Their ability to understand or produce verbal and or written language longer than single sentences becomes difficult. The cognitive skills that are needed for effective, clear communication (i.e., attention, memory, executive function, visual-perceptual skills, and/or awareness of deficits) are negatively impacted. People with RHD often have limited insight into their deficits. 

Causes: Acquired Language Disorders are a result of brain damage (i.e., stroke, traumatic brain injury, etc.) or neurological disease (i.e., Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Schizophrenia, etc.).

Treatment: Treatment approaches can be restorative, compensatory, or a combination of the two. Treatment selection depends on the person’s communication and activity participation needs, the preferences of the person and their care partners, and the presence of co-occurring conditions.

Resources: Visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for more information on Aphasia and RHD

• https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aphasia/
• https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/right-hemisphere-disorder/