Some expressive language skills include putting words together into sentences, being able to label objects in an environment and describing events and actions. Receptive Language Delay
Children that are diagnosed with receptive language delay have difficulties understanding language. They may have trouble with receptive language skills such as identifying vocabulary and basic concepts, understanding gestures, following directions and answering questions. The number of language skills that children have difficulties with can differ greatly, with some having trouble with only a single skill and others having trouble with multiple. Expressive Language Delay
A child diagnosed with expressive language delay (ELD) has trouble with language usage in some way. As this diagnosis is very broad, each child diagnosed with ELD can be very different in terms of the language skills they have problems with. Some may have difficulty with using the correct words and vocabulary, some have trouble forming sentences and others are unable to sequence information together coherently. Expressive language symptoms come in many forms and each one is treated with different methods. Presentation and Diagnosis
A language delay is most commonly identified around 18 months of age with an enhanced well-baby visit. It presents itself in many forms and can be comorbid or develop as a result of other developmental delays. It is important to remember that language delays act and develop differently individually. Language delay is different than individual variation in language development, and is defined by children falling behind on the timeline for recognized milestones.
Parents have the ability to maintain language delay by offering the child a non-verbal environment or one where their communication may not be challenged. Intervention programs and strategies are found to be beneficial to children with a specific language impairments. Research has found that the management strategies put to use are influenced by the child and the important participation of the parents. Parents are likely to follow the lead of the childs language development. One approach for intervening is naturalistic intervention. The child is in a natural environment where the communication is more responsive, rather than being more direct. See also
References
Further reading
External links
Speech Therapy for Down Syndrome
Different Issues in Speech and Language Development - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Delay in Speech and Language - KidsHealth
Early Identification of Speech -Language Delays and Disorders
Speech and Language Delays and Disorders - University of Michigan Health System
CHAPTER III - Assessment Methods for Young Children With Communications Disorders
Statistics on Voice, Speech, and Language - National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders