Childhood Language Disorders

What are the words that fall under the umbrella term ‘language disorder’

Language impairment, specific language impairment, and language delay

Language delay

Developing language in the typical order, but at a slower rate

Language difference

Variations due to dialect or bilingualism (not a disorder)

Language disorder

A breakdown in the processing or production of language

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

A primary, lifelong neurodevelopmental condition

Why are kids and adults with a DLD often misperceived?

DLDs are often misperceived since they are an invisible disability that don’t have any physical markers

Secondary Language Disorder

A language disorder caused by another condition such as Autism, Down Syndrome, or TBI

What is phonology

how speech sounds are organized and function within specific languages

What is morphology

how words are formatted and there internal structure

What is semantics

meaning in language

What is pragmatics

interpretation; how context contributes to meaning of words

What is syntax

how words arrange into phrases, clauses, and sentences

Hallmark feature - Phonology

Issues with sounds, syllable structures, and rhyming

Hallmark feature - Morphology and Syntax

Omitting past tense or 3rd person singular

Example of phonology error

Struggling to mark all sounds in a complex word

Example of Morphology and Syntax Error

“She sing” instead of “She sings”

Hallmark feature - semantics

Difficulty with multiple means and figurative language and word-finding difficulties (tip of the tongue - hallmark of DLD)

What is semantic mapping

A strategy to strengthen word associations by mapping out a word’s category, function, and synonyms

What is the cueing hierarchy?

Systematic order that helps retrieve a word: Phonemic, Category, Description, Fill in the blank

Hallmark feature - Pragmatics

Difficulty with telling a cohesive story or turn talking

Story Grammar Marker

A tool used to ensure a child includes all essential narrative elements instead of just a list of events (helps pragmatics)

What is the difference between simultaneous and sequential bilingual development?

Simultaneous = learn at same time, Sequential = one after the other

What is the dual systems model for bilingual development

Languages are separate but interactive from the start

What is the golden rule when in comes to disorders and being bilingual

A disorder must be present in all languages to be a true disorder. Bilingualism does NOT cause or worsen a disorder

What is parallel talk? (evidence based intervention for DLD)

Adult describes the child’s actions

What is recasting? (evidence based intervention)

Repeating the child but correction the form (“mommy walk” to “mommy is walking”)

What is expansion? (evidence based intervention)

Adding info to the child’s utterance (“mommy is walking TO THE CAR”)

What is social stories? (evidence based intervention)

Used for pragmatics to navigate social situations

How many people does DLD affect?

7-8 percent of school aged children (more common than autism)

T/F: 50% of 4th graders with DLD read below expected levels

False, 65%

What is the role of an SLP for DLDs

Must find the child’s personality, follow their lead, and help parents/teachers facilitate communication in daily routines