What Every Parent Needs to Know About Their Child’s Language Disorder

What is a Spoken Language Disorder? 

A spoken language disorder means having trouble learning and using listening and speaking skills in any of these areas: sounds, word parts, sentence structure, word meanings, and how we use language socially. It can happen at any age and might stick around for a while, sometimes changing over time. It can happen by itself or along with other conditions. Sometimes, kids who’ve been through tough times may also have trouble with language.

Different Names for Spoken Language Disorders:

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): This term is used when the language problem doesn’t have a clear medical cause and lasts into school age and beyond.

• Specific Language Impairment: Some experts still use this term, especially to talk about language problems slightly different from DLD.

• Language Disorder Associated with [Condition]: This is used when a language problem happens because of another condition, like autism, Down syndrome, or a brain injury.

How Do Spoken Language Disorders Affect Reading, Writing, and Talking? 

Kids with spoken language issues might find it hard to learn to read and write. They might also have trouble with social skills because understanding and using language is part of how we communicate with others.

What are the first signs of Spoken Language Disorders?

• Phonology (sounds): Trouble making certain sounds, like “r” or “l.”
• Syntax and Morphology (Words and Sentences): Difficulty learning words and putting them together in sentences.
• Semantics (Word Meanings): Trouble understanding and using words.
• Pragmatics (Social Language): Finding it hard to talk and play with other kids or understand their feelings.
• Literacy (Reading and Writing): Struggling to learn to read and write.

What to do if my child is displaying symptoms of Spoken Language Disorders?

Kids might show signs of a language disorder at different times, like when they’re starting to learn to read and write or when they’re having a tough time with schoolwork. Sometimes, it’s just a delay that goes away on its own, but other times, it sticks around.

What Causes Spoken Language Disorders? 

There are lots of reasons why someone might have trouble with language. Sometimes it’s because of things that happened, like a brain injury or being born too early. Other times, it might be because of something in their genes or the environment they’re in.

How can a Speech Therapist in Dubai Help Children with Spoken Language Disorders? 

Here is how our Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Dubai help kids with spoken language disorders. They:

• Check if someone has trouble with language.
• Understand how a kid’s background might affect their language.
• Figure out what’s causing the language problem.
• Help kids learn to talk and understand better.

Here is how the treatment with an SLP works:

The goal of treatment is to help kids get better at using language in everyday life. This might mean speech and language therapists working on talking, understanding, reading, or writing. The treatment plan depends on what the kid needs and what will help them succeed in school and with friends.

Speech therapists in Dubai help individuals with language disorders at different ages:

• Preschoolers (Ages 3–5): Learning sounds and words (vocab), making sentences to describe and express needs and wants, playing with other kids, and getting ready for school.
• Elementary Schoolers (Ages 5–10): Learning more advanced and less familiar words, understanding sentences and producing longer sentences, and helping children do well in class (reading, spelling, phonological awareness).
• Teenagers (Ages 11 and Up): Getting better at reading and writing, understanding and producing complex sentences, working on pragmatic skills including social skills and narration and preparing for life after school.

Will my child who has Spoken Language Disorder be able to lead a normal life?

As kids get older, Speech Therapists in Dubai help them plan for life after school. This might mean going to college, getting a job, or learning skills for everyday life. They make sure kids have the support they need to succeed, even after they finish school.

Understanding spoken language disorders is paramount for fostering effective communication and providing comprehensive support to individuals facing language-related challenges. Through early intervention, personalized treatment, and ongoing guidance, individuals can overcome barriers and realize their full potential in both academic and social spheres.

The collaboration between speech-language therapy and psychomotor therapists underscores the comprehensive approach required to address spoken language disorders. Through their combined expertise and tailored interventions, individuals can overcome communication barriers and achieve success in both academic and social domains.