Huntsville, AL 35801

Language

The speech therapy domain of language is focused on our content, form, and use of words as we communicate with others. It also concerns our comprehension and understanding of others.

In order to communicate effectively and appropriately with others, to share our thoughts and feelings, we must have good language skills.

Language disorders are a core aspect of what speech therapists can provide intervention for, alongside speech sounds. A client may have deficits or difficulties with language development with or without issues with speech sounds.

Are language and speech different?

Yes - the speech aspect of speech therapy is focused on the physical productions of sounds. The language aspect of speech therapy focuses on receptive language (language comprehension) and expressive language in words, phrases, and sentences that we use for a variety of purposes, such as conversation, work, academics, and daily tasks. Language focuses on grammar and vocabulary, abstract concepts, figurative language, and more. Deficits or issues with language can affect every aspect of our daily lives - our ability to complete class assignments or job tasks and our ability to engage socially. Speech and language are important but distinct aspects of communication.

Let’s explore more about language:

Speech therapy assesses two domains of language: receptive language and expressive language.

Receptive language is focused on the ability to comprehend words, phrases, and sentences in conversation and written text. Beyond what is being said or read, it is also the ability to identify and understand intended messages or meanings. It is one thing to hear, it’s another to understand. Difficulties or deficits in comprehension of language may be difficult to identify, as those with comprehension difficulties often compensate for their struggles.

Expressive language difficulties are, at times, easier to notice. Expressive language skills are focused more on the use of language in terms of use of a variety of grammar rules, syntax or structure of sentences, and vocabulary in order to communicate effectively. Those who have difficulty expressing themselves should seek professional support from a speech-language pathologist.

How does speech therapy support those with language deficits?

A speech-language pathologist can conduct language assessments to evaluate receptive and expressive language skills. This allows for them to develop a treatment plan to address any difficulties they are having with language, whether issues are based on vocabulary, grammar use, syntax, or a combination of difficulties. A language disorder is important to treat, as it affects all aspects of daily life and addressing difficulties can improve conversational skills, reduce frustration and confusion, increase opportunities and success academically or occupationally, and improve social skills. With good support, clients can improve their overall language skills to become more effective and capable communicators.

How do I know if I have a language disorder? Or, how do I know if my child has language issues?

Language disorder may look different in children and adults; it often looks different from person to person!

Language disorder in children may develop and present as difficulties early as trouble learning or using new words. Language disorders in adults may come from language deficits that originated in childhood or deficits following a traumatic brain event, such as a concussion or a stroke.

In both children and adults, language disorders may affect or cause trouble with reading, having conversations with others easily, expressing their thoughts clearly, and following directions consistently.

There are many signs that could indicate the presence of a language disorder, and these signs may vary from person to person. Someone with a language disorder may present with some of the following difficulties:

Issues with following directions
Struggles to use correct grammar in sentences
Being able to only consistently follow directions when watching someone else complete the task (classmates, coworkers, etc.)
Difficulty understanding time, order, or spatial concepts
Difficulty understanding jokes, idioms, metaphors, or other types of nonliteral language
Using the wrong tense of verbs (i.e., runned, swimmed, dranked) or pronouns
Limited vocabulary
Difficulty understanding or responding to questions

How do I get help for language disorders?

If you or a loved one presents with signs of a language disorder, you should seek out a speech-language pathologist for an assessment. An evaluation for language disorder includes the assessment of receptive and expressive language skills by conducting standardized tests to compare the client’s skills to the average language skills of others their age. This allows for the speech therapist to identify areas of strength and weakness and to provide support for areas of language development.

With proper and regular support, people with language disorders can often accomplish significant improvements in communication skills.