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Language Disorders

Language disorders can affect a person’s ability to understand, express, or process language. Here are the main types of language disorders:

Receptive Language Disorder

  • Description: Difficulty understanding or processing language.
  • Symptoms: Trouble following directions, difficulty understanding questions or spoken instructions, and challenges grasping the meaning of words or sentences.
  • Common in: Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder, Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

Expressive Language Disorder

  • Description: Difficulty in expressing thoughts or ideas through language.
  • Symptoms: Struggles with forming sentences, using correct grammar, finding the right words, and organizing thoughts coherently when speaking or writing.
  • Common in: Dysphasia, Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder.

Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder

  • Description: A combination of difficulties in both understanding and expressing language.
  • Symptoms: Trouble understanding language (receptive) as well as expressing language (expressive). Difficulty can be seen in both spoken and written communication.

Phonological Disorder

  • Description: Difficulty with the sound system of language and understanding phonemic awareness (the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds).
  • Symptoms: Mispronunciation of words, trouble distinguishing between sounds, and difficulty learning how to read or write.

Pragmatic (Social) Communication Disorder

  • Description: Difficulty using language socially, including using appropriate greetings, taking turns in conversation, and understanding sarcasm or humor.
  • Symptoms: Inability to match language to the social context, difficulty in maintaining conversations, and misunderstanding nonverbal cues or conversational norms.

Aphasia (Dysphasia)

  • Description: Loss or impairment of language abilities due to brain damage, often from a stroke, brain injury, or neurological condition.
  • Types:
    • Broca’s Aphasia: Difficulty producing speech but relatively preserved understanding.
    • Wernicke’s Aphasia: Fluent but nonsensical speech and difficulty understanding language.
  • Symptoms: Trouble speaking, finding words, or understanding language.

Language-Based Learning Disabilities (e.g., Dyslexia)

  • Description: Difficulties related to understanding or producing language in an academic setting, such as problems with reading, writing, or spelling.
  • Symptoms: Challenges with phonological awareness, spelling, reading comprehension, or written expression.

Selective Mutism

  • Description: A complex anxiety disorder where a person (usually a child) is unable to speak in certain social situations despite being able to speak in others.
  • Symptoms: Ability to speak freely at home but not in social or school settings.

Each of these disorders requires tailored support and intervention strategies to help with language development and communication.