Dyslexia Expressive Language Disorder And Receptive Language Disorder
Dyslexia may be differentiated from Expressive language disorder and receptive language disorder based on a few traits. Here are a few points to ponder to mark those similarities and differences:
- Receptive language disorder is more about the shortcomings of a child related to the grasping of language, while expressive language disorder is more about the ability to communicate. But, Dyslexia is related to the processing of language in its absolute sense and is mostly related to phonological deficits.
- Expression is the next step of reception. Accordingly, those who have expressive difficulties mostly have receptive difficulties too. Dyslexics can have signs of receptive disorder
- Dyslexia, Receptive and Expressive language disabilities can have difficulties remembering words of a language.
- Receptive disables often dont like reading books, whereas expressive disables dont prefer speaking in public. Dyslexics may have both attributes along with social issues.
- Receptive language disability can be due to geneticfactors and inadequate exposure to learning sessions. Expressive deficits can be because of genetic factors and malnutrition. Dyslexia can have multiple reasons including genetics.
Symptoms Of Expressive Or Receptive Language Disorders
If your child has a receptive language disorder, the main indicator is that they have trouble following instructions.
For example, if you ask them to put their toys in a specific basket, they donât do it. This is not just them being naughty, instead, they genuinely cannot organise the information in their heads.
Receptive language issues can, therefore, be hard to spot in young children because theyâre not usually asked to perform complex tasks or follow long verbal instructions yet. Another sign of a receptive language difficulty is if they answer a wh-question, that is âwhatâ, âwhereâ, âwhyâ, âwhenâ or âwhoâ, with information that is not relevant to the question. For example, if you ask âwhere is the ball?â and they answer with âblueâ then this is a sign that they have not understood the question and are just hoping they have given you the right answer.
Expressive language disorders are easier to identify. Signs often include:
- Having a limited vocabulary compared to other kids their age
- Using sounds like âumâ and general words like âstuffâ rather than more specific words
- Having a limited vocabulary that doesnât seem to grow
- Leaving out key phrases or words
- Seeming frustrated by their inability to communicate thoughts
- Speaking sentences that donât make sense
- Using a limited variety of sentence structures when speaking
- Telling stories with jumbled or missing information
What Is An Expressive Language Disorder
An expressive language disorder is impairment of verbal communication.
A child with an expressive language disorder may be able to understand what’s spoken to them, but they have trouble expressing what they need to say. They may struggle learning and using new vocabulary words, understanding how to string a series of words together into a coherent sentence, or telling a story.
While all communication problems can be difficult for children, expressive language disorder can be particularly frustrating. Often, children know exactly what they want to say, but it doesn’t translate into a legible sentence once they begin talking.
Expressive language disorders are typically what family members will notice first if a child is delayed in speech, simply because it is more obvious than a receptive language disorder. However, this doesnt mean that these disorders only present individually .
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How Are Language Disorders Treated
Treatment of the child will depend on their needs and what they need most to be successful communicators. Typically, therapy will be play-based and the SLP will utilize age appropriate methods in assisting them learn language while simultaneously coaching parents strategies and maintaining parental involvement. Materials for thistype of therapy often incorporate common items that many children may already have at home such as: toys, books, pictures, crafting projects, etc.
How Are Expressive Or Receptive Language Impairments Diagnosed

Speech therapists can determine not only whether your child expresses themselves less competently than expected for their age they also assess whether they understand speech. The latter can be tricky, so we use non-verbal play-based and book-based tests in addition to other spoken exercises.
Hearing tests, verbal communication tests, language comprehension tests and observation all contribute to a diagnosis.
At SpeechEase, we know that you are the #1 expert on your child, so our speech therapists also work closely with you the parent. We find out as much as we can about your childâs developmental history in order to get a better picture of your child.
Once a diagnosis is reached, the next step is developing a treatment plan thatâs best suited to your little oneâs individual needs. We develop this in conjunction with you, based on goals that are individualised for your child, using our Steps To Success Action Plan.
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What You Can Do At Home
Working with your child at home can help. Here are some tips:
- Speak clearly, slowly, and concisely when asking your child a question.
- Wait patiently as your child forms a response.
- Keep the atmosphere relaxed to reduce anxiety.
- Ask your child to put your instructions in their own words after explaining or commanding.
Frequent contact with teachers is also important. Your child may be reserved in class and may not want to participate in activities that involve talking and sharing. Ask the teacher about class activities in advance to help prepare your child for upcoming discussions.
Symptoms Of Receptive Language Disorder
There is no standard set of symptoms that indicates receptive language disorder, since it varies from one child to the next. However, symptoms may include:
Some children are late in reaching typical language milestones in the first three years, but eventually catch up to their peers. These children are commonly referred to as late-talkers. Children who continue to have difficulty with verbal expression may be diagnosed with expressive language disorder or another language impairment.
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How Is A Language Disorder Diagnosed
Children with a suspected language disorder undergo a comprehensive assessment to identify the specific delay and disorder. The assessments may include an interview with the parent or caregiver regarding the childs medical history, unstructured play with the child to see how the child uses and understands language in a natural environment, and several standardized tests. These tests help the childs treatment team determine the presence or severity of a childs language disorder.
Child Vs Adult Presentation
Acquired Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder is seen at any age. Developmental Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder is seen in children with a normal onset at or around age 4. Severe forms of Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder can be detected by age 2. The milder forms may not be detected until the child reaches school where comprehension problems become more apparent.
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Tips For Improving Receptive And Expressive Language
Learning more about how to improve receptive and expressive language in children can help you work with them in a professional setting. If you’re interested in learning more about improving language, consider enrolling in a formal education program for language or child development. These are some tips for improving both receptive and expressive language in children:
Expressive Versus Receptive Language
Learning more about the differences between expressive and receptive language can help you better understand how to help those struggling with language development or speech problems. Because the two types of language differ, they often require different approaches for improvement. These are some differences between expressive and receptive language:
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What Is Receptive Language
Receptive language is the input of language, the ability to understand and comprehend spoken language that you hear or read. For example, a childs ability to listen and follow directions relies on the childs receptive language skills. In typical development, children are able to understand language before they are able to produce it. Children who are unable to comprehend language may have receptive language difficulties or a receptive language disorder.
Children who have difficulty understanding language may struggle with the following:
- Following directions
- Reading comprehension
- Understanding a story
How to improve receptive language: Speech-language therapy is highly effective in improving receptive language skills. A speech-language pathologist will use a variety of informal and formal assessments to determine a childs specific receptive language weaknesses.
A comprehensive treatment plan is created for each child. Goals may focus on attention and concentration, vocabulary, understanding of grammar, figurative language, comprehension strategies and following directions.
Speech therapy for receptive language is specific to each childs unique needs. Improving receptive language skills will allow a child to fully and independently participate in their daily activities.
Why Is Expressive And Receptive Language Development Important

We use expressive and receptive language skills to communicate with others effectively. If a person has trouble understanding others or sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings, the person may have a language disorder. A language disorder can be a receptive or expressive language disorder. To determine if your child has receptive or expressive language difficulties, it is important to understand the difference between receptive language and expressive language.
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What Is The Treatment For A Language Disorder
There are several options for language disorder treatment. They include:
- Group and individual therapy sessions with a speech doctor
- Developing language intervention programs
- Receiving help from special education teachers
- Planning home programs for parents to communicate with their child
- Playing word games with the child to increase their vocabulary
- Practicing making short and simple sentences
- Visiting a psychologist for the treatment of behavioral problems
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What Is Mixed Receptive
There are a variety of different language disorders that can affect adults and children alike in how well they are able to understand what others are saying, or how well they are able to express their own thoughts and feelings. With a mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, the individual has difficulty with both of these tasks.
The board certified pediatricians at Delaware Pediatrics specialize in treatments and therapies for Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder at our office in Buffalo. Learn more about the causes and available treatment options and schedule your childs appointment with Delaware Pediatrics today.
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Intervention And Treatment At Delaware Pediatrics
The best option for children with a mixed receptive-expressive language disorder is to begin treating it as soon as possible. This treatment will include educating all adults in frequent contact with the child about how to handle their disorder and how to encourage positive change.
One-on-one time with a specialist is a key component to addressing a language disorder, as these types of professionals are able to offer specific instruction and guidance that, when combined with the familys efforts, can result in an ideal outlook for the child.
Language Disorders Vs Developmental Issues
Sometimes it’s common to confuse language disorders with developmental problems. However, these are two different things. Although it’s true that these disorders can be associated with some developmental problems, they aren’t the only cause.
Often, it’s not possible to identify the specific cause of mixed language disorder in kids. In these cases, you need to talk with your doctor. Usually these symptoms start in childhood. This is when kids’ bodies are growing physically and mentally. Most kids learn language completely naturally.
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Can You Prevent Language Disorders
Not all receptive language disorders can be prevented, but some can.
- Spend time talking and reading with your child every day.
- Take your child for regular check-ups.
- Prevent head injuries. Make sure your child wears a seat belt in the car and a helmet for sports.
- Dont drink or use drugs when pregnant.
- Receptive language disorder can affect the childs ability to communicate, learn, and play with others. For this reason, its very important to get treatment as soon as the problem is discovered.
What Are Language Disorders In Children
Most infants or toddlers can understand what youre saying well before they can clearly talk. As they get older and their communication skills develop, most children learn how to put their feelings into words.
But some children have language disorders. They may have:
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Receptive language disorder. A child has trouble understanding words that he or she hears and reads.
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Expressive language disorder. A child has trouble speaking with others and expressing thoughts and feelings.
A child will often have both disorders at the same time. Such disorders are often diagnosed in children between the ages of 3 and 5.
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Key Points About Language Disorders In Children
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Children who have a language disorder have trouble understanding language and communicating.
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There are 2 kinds of language disorders: receptive and expressive. Children often have both at the same time.
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A child with a receptive language disorder has trouble understanding words that they hear and read.
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A child with an expressive language disorder has trouble speaking with others and expressing thoughts and feelings.
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Language disorders can have many possible causes, such as a brain injury or birth defect.
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A speech-language pathologist can help diagnose and treat a language disorder.
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Parents can help their child with language use and understanding through simple activities.
Receptive Language Disorder Signs And Symptoms

Language disorders are usually developmental. They start in early childhood. Kids can show signs of receptive language disorder as early as Pre-K.
Here are some common signs of receptive language disorder:
- Tuning out when people talk
- Trouble following directions
- Interrupting people who are speaking
- Asking people to repeat what they say
- Giving answers that are off
- Misunderstanding whats said
- Not getting jokes
People with receptive language disorder can also come across as withdrawn or shy. They may not respond when people speak to them because they didnt understand what was said. Or they didnt tune in to it to begin with.
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What Causes Language Development Problems In Some Kids
Experts arenât sure what causes receptive-expressive language impairments. Research is being conducted to determine whether biological or environmental causes are involved.
That being said, sometimes receptive-language problems are acquired through a brain injury. Damage sustained during a stroke, trauma, or other medical conditions can directly damage the brain, sometimes causing a language disorder to develop. This is true for both children and adults.
Why Is Expressive And Receptive Language Important
We use expressive and receptive language skills to communicate with others effectively. If a person has trouble understanding others or sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings, the person may have a language disorder. A language disorder can be a receptive or expressive language disorder. To determine if your child has receptive or expressive language difficulties, it is important to understand the difference between receptive language and expressive language.
Receptive language is the input of language, the ability to understand and comprehend spoken language that you hear or read. For example, a childs ability to listen and follow directions relies on the childs receptive language skills. In typical development, children are able to understand language before they are able to produce it. Children who are unable to comprehend language may have receptive language difficulties or a receptive language disorder.
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Assessment Of These Dimensions
Pre-linguistic skills, communication patterns and play behaviors are effectively assessed in an interaction-based play context with adults.43 Some of the methods that have been used for the assessment of parentchild interactions are interactions in natural settings , parental interaction in structured environment questionnaires, parental interview-based assessment and video-based analysis.44 Video-based analysis has been preferred over other forms of observational analysis, as it is repeatable and practical for offline analysis by multiple observers.45 One robust video-based analysis method devised by Tait46 has been used successfully to monitor pre-linguistic traits in children wearing amplification devices. The method entails video recording of interactions between an adult and a child in a conversational scenario over time. The study methodically analyzed several aspects of the interactions including auditory processing, eye contact, autonomy and turn-taking.46,47
Symptoms Of Expressive Language Disorder
Children with expressive language disorder have difficulties with the grammatical aspects of spoken language such as using the correct verb tense and combining words to form accurate phrases and sentences. They typically produce much shorter phrases and sentences than other children of the same age, and their vocabulary is smaller and more basic.
Children with expressive language disorder are usually below the average level for their age in:
Specific examples of expressive language impairment include a seven-year-old child being unable to join sentences with words like and, but or if, and a three-year-old child who speaks in two-word sentences.
Symptoms of expressive language disorder differ from one child to the next and depend on the childs age and the degree of the impairment. Common symptoms include:
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What Are Receptive Language Disorders
Receptive language skills develop first. Receptive language is defined as the ability to understand language. A receptive language disorder is an impairment in the comprehension of spoken, written, gestural language.
Children with receptive language disorders may have trouble with any of the following skills:
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Following verbal instructions
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Answering simple or complex questions
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Understanding the names of things
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Taking turns during a conversation
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Understanding another’s perspective
When a child has a receptive language disorder, they may exhibit trouble following directions or understanding written language. A problem understanding language can affect how the child interacts socially and may impact academic success.
A young child in the age range of 2-5 years old should respond to you when you call their name, follow directions, and engage with you when you talk to them. If you say to your child, “Let’s go play with your toys,” they should run to the toy bin or point to the location where the toys are kept, possibly grab your hand, and then guide you to the toys. Your child may then gather the desired toys. When a child struggles with following verbal instructions, they may be bewildered by the statement “let’s go play with your toys” and not respond or appear confused.