What is a receptive language disorder?

Communication is vital to our lives. Still, some people need help understanding spoken language. This condition is called Receptive Language Disorder.

In this blog, we’ll explore Receptive Language Disorder, its symptoms, causes and receptive language skills for coping with the disorder.

What is a receptive language disorder?

Receptive language disorder or receptive language delay is a lifelong condition affecting a person’s ability to understand language and process incoming information effectively. 

Individuals with receptive language disorder struggle to understand and connect words with ideas. So they don’t always “understand” what others are saying. This can make communicating with people at school, work, or the community hard, causing them to withdraw socially.

Individuals with this language disorder may also have trouble organizing their thoughts. That can happen with both speaking and writing. Receptive language skills, which are the ability to understand and comprehend spoken or written language—can help such individuals cope with receptive language disorder and connect socially.

What are the signs and symptoms of receptive language disorder?

Here are some common signs and symptoms of receptive language disorder:

• Tuning out when people talk
• Trouble following directions
• Trouble understanding or answering questions
• Asking people to repeat what they say
• Misunderstanding what’s said
• Trouble understanding and learning new vocabulary
• Not getting jokes or sarcasm

People with receptive language delay can also come across as withdrawn or shy. They may not respond when people speak to them because they don’t understand what was said. 

What are the possible causes of receptive language disorder?

There’s no exact cause of receptive language disorder. And many times, there’s no known reason for these challenges. 

In some cases, they may be related to certain conditions such as autism, birth defects, or problems in pregnancy or birth. Brain injuries can sometimes affect language processing, leading to receptive language difficulties.

Early detection and intervention are crucial for improving the outcomes of individuals with receptive language disorder. 

How is receptive language disorder diagnosed?

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or speech therapists can help with diagnosis. Receptive language disorder can be diagnosed at any age. But the sooner it’s identified, the better.

Sometimes kids have trouble understanding language and have difficulty using language (expressive language). When kids struggle with both receptive and expressive language disorder, it’s called mixed receptive-expressive language disorder. 

For example-

• They have word-finding difficulty and often use filler words such as “Ah, Uh, Umm” 
• They speak short, incomplete sentences (telegraphic speech)
• They show patterns of disorganized thoughts when expressing ideas
• They often use gestures and facial expressions to express their ideas.

SLPs perform several tests, evaluating the child’s speech. They will consider different speech characteristics, including the breadth and depth of spoken vocabulary if the child reaches for words, etc. The purpose is to discover how language challenges impact your child’s life.

How can professionals help with receptive language disorder?

Kids need to get help for receptive language disorder as early as possible. There are no medications for receptive language disorder treatment. 
The main treatment is speech therapy. The therapist will use strategies and activities based on your child’s needs. Therapy sessions may include exercises to improve listening skills, spoken language comprehension, vocabulary and grammar, and following instructions.

How can you help your child with receptive language disorder?

There are many simple ways you can help your child improve language skills. Here are some ideas:

• Read picture books together and label the items you see. Talk about what the characters are doing. 
• Play games with simple, predictable directions, like Simon Says.
• Use clear and simple language while communicating.
• Play together with toys your child chooses. Make comments and ask questions that relate to what you’re doing.
• When giving instructions or explaining tasks, break them down into simple, manageable steps.
• Be patient and understanding during communication interactions. 
• Let your child know it’s OK to ask people to repeat themselves.
• Collaborate with your child’s teachers to ensure they receive appropriate support in the educational setting.
• Keep track of your child’s progress and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small. 

Training your child needs practice, patience and persistence. You can use this as a To-Do list to check how you are preparing your child for life! 

And, of course, our specialists are there to guide your child at each step.

Consult an expert for receptive language disorder

Receptive language disorder can be overwhelming, but getting the right assistance can reduce the burden of its symptoms.

Consult with Neuropedia – a highly specialized pediatric neuroscience center offering expert care for children in Dubai to tackle this condition efficiently and lead a normal, everyday life. 

Book a consultation today.