← Return to list of services

Language

A language disorder in children occurs when a child has difficulty learning the words and grammar of their language, or difficulty using the words or grammar, or both of those things.

When a child has difficulty learning the rules and grammar of their language this is referred to a receptive language disorder.  These children often also have an expressive language disorder.  Children with receptive language challenges need support and strategies to help them learn vocabulary and the structures for sentences.  They often have difficulty following directions or understanding stories.

When a child has difficulty using words and putting words together or using correct grammar, this is an expressive language disorder.  Children with just an expressive language disorder understand what others say and "know" a lot of words, but they have difficulty using words and sentences or putting sentences together with correct grammar.  Children with speech disorders like CAS, articulation, or phonology often have expressive language disorders as a result of their difficulty saying words correctly.