Language disordersUmm-e-Rooman Yaqoob

Language Disorder:• Language disorders or language impairments are disorders that

involve the processing of linguistic information. Problems that may be experienced can involve grammar (syntax and/or morphology), semantics (meaning), or other aspects of language. These problems may be receptive (involving impaired language comprehension), expressive (involving language production), or a combination of both. Examples include specific language impairment and aphasia, among others. Language disorders can affect both spoken and written language, and can also affect sign language; typically, all forms of language will be impaired.

Receptive Language Disorder:

• Receptive Language Disorder: is the understanding of language ‘’Input’’. Receptive language means the ability to understand and comprehend language heard or read. A receptive language disorder is an impairment in the comprehension of a spoken, written, gestural or other symbol system. It also effects the social and academicals life.

• Understanding the message coming from others.

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:

• not seeming to listen when they are spoken to

• appearing to lack interest when storybooks are read to them

• inability to understand complicated sentences

• inability to follow verbal instructions

• parroting words or phrases of things that are said to them (echolalia)

• language skills below the expected level for their age.

Expressive Language Disorder:• Expressive Language Disorder; is a Communication

disorder in which there are difficulties with spoken or written expression. Expressive language is most simply the‘ ’Output’’ of language. This include not only words, but also the grammar rules that indicate how words are combined into phrases, sentences and paragraphs as well as the use of gestures and facial expressions.

Symptoms of expressive language disorder:• Children with an expressive language disorder have problem using

language to express what they are thinking or need. These children may ;

• Have a hard time putting words together into sentences, or their sentences may be simple, short and the word order may be off.

• Have a difficulty finding the right words when talking.

• Have a vocabulary that is below the level of other children the same age. Leave words out of sentences when talking.

• Use certain phrases over and over again.

• Frustration.

Speech Disorder:

• Speech disorders or speech impediments are a type of communication disorder where 'normal' speech is disrupted. This can mean stuttering, lisps, etc. Someone who is unable to speak due to a speech disorder is considered mute.

Communication Disorder:

• A communication disorder is any disorder that affects somebody's ability to communicate. The delays and disorders can range from simple sound substitution to the inability to understand or use one's native language.

Types of Language Disorders:• Sensory impairments

• Apraxia

• Dyslexia

• Dysgraphia

• Stuttering

• Down Syndrome

• Autism

• ADHD

Sensory impairments:There are two types of sensory impairments:

1.Blindness 2.Deafness

• Blindness – A link between communication skills and visual impairment with children who are blind is currently being investigated. It impairs ones speech ability. One cannot recognize gestures and facial expressions.

• Deafness/frequent ear infections – Trouble with hearing during language acquisition may lead to spoken language problems. Children who suffer from frequent ear infections may temporarily develop problems pronouncing words correctly.

Apraxia:• Apraxia is a general term. It can cause problems in parts of the

body, such as arms and legs. Apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder. It is caused by damage to the parts of the brain related to speaking.

• People with apraxia of speech have trouble sequencing the sounds in syllables and words. The severity depends on the nature of the brain damage.

Symptoms of Apraxia:• difficulty imitating speech sounds

• difficulty imitating non-speech movements (oral apraxia), such as sticking out their tongue

• groping when trying to produce sounds

• in severe cases, an inability to produce sound at all

• inconsistent errors, slow rate of speech

• somewhat preserved ability to produce "automatic speech" (rote speech), such as greetings like "How are you?"

Dyslexia:

• Dyslexia or developmental reading disorder is characterized by difficulty with learning to read fluently and with accurate comprehension despite normal or above average intelligence. This include difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, pressing speed, orthographic coding, auditory short term memory language skills/ verbal comprehension and rapid naming. Dyslexia is the most common learning difficulty and most recognizing reading disorder.

Effects of Dyslexia:• Dyslexia can affect people differently.

• Some with dyslexia can have trouble with reading and spelling, while others struggle to write, or to tell left from right.

• Some children show few signs of difficulty with early reading and writing. But later on, they may have trouble with complex language skills, such as grammar reading comprehension and more in depth writing.

• Dyslexia can also make it difficult for people to express them clearly.

• It can be hard for them to use vocabulary and structure of their thoughts during conversation.

Dysgraphia:• The word ‘dysgraphia 'comes from Greek words ‘ dys ’ means ‘

impaired ’ and ;graphic’ means ‘writing by hard’

• Dysgraphia is a deficiency in the ability to write, primarily in term of handwriting, but also in terms of coherence. Dysgraphia is a transcription disability, meaning that it is a writing disorder association with impaired handwriting, orthographic coding and finger sequencing. They may lack basic grammar spellings(for example, having difficulties with the letter p,q,b,&d) and often will write the wrong spelling while writing their own thought on the paper.

• Just having bad handwriting means a person has dysgraphia. Since dysgraphia is processing disorder difficulties can change throughout lifetime. However since writing is a developmental process. Children learn the motor skills needed to write, while learning the thinking skills needed to communicate on paper- difficulties can overlap.

• There are many ways to help a person with dysgraphia achieve success. General strategies fall in three main categories

• 1: Accommodation: providing alternatives to written material

• 2: Modification: changing expectations or tasks to minimize or avoid the area of weakness

• 3: Remediation: providing instruction for improving handwriting and writing skills.

Stuttering:

Stuttering is a speech disorder in which sounds, syllables, or words are repeated or prolonged, disrupting the normal flow of speech. These speech disruptions may be accompanied by struggling behaviours, such as rapid eye blinks or tremors of the lips. Stuttering can make it difficult to communicate with other people, which often affects a person’s quality of life.

Causes of Stuttering:• Possible causes of persistent stuttering include:

• Abnormalities in speech motor control. Some evidence indicates that abnormalities in speech motor control, such as timing, sensory and motor coordination, are implicated.

• Genetics. Stuttering tends to run in families. It appears that stuttering can result from inherited (genetic) abnormalities in the language centres of the brain.

• Medical conditions. Stuttering can sometimes result from a stroke, trauma or other brain injury.

• Mental health problems. In rare, isolated cases, emotional trauma can lead to stuttering.

Down Syndrome:• Down syndrome is a genetic abnormality. This syndrome occurs

because of an extra copy of chromosome 21. Your chromosomes contain your genetic material, and any problems with your chromosomes can cause serious physical and mental health problems. It is typically associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability. The average IQ of a young adult with Down syndrome is 50, equivalent to the mental age of an 8- or 9-year-old child, but this varies widely.

• Down syndrome causes lifelong developmental delays that can range from moderate to severe. It cannot be cured, but there are options

Types of Down syndromeThere are three types of Down syndrome:

Trisomy 21:Trisomy 21 means there is an extra copy of chromosome 21

in every cell. This is the most common form of Down syndrome.

Mosaicism:Mosaicism means there is an extra chromosome in some

but not all of a child’s cells. Individuals with mosaic Down syndrome tend to have fewer symptoms.

Translocation:In this condition, children have only an extra part of

chromosome 21. There are 46 total chromosomes. However, one of them has an extra piece of chromosome 21 attached.

Autism:• Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by

impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted and repetitive behaviour.

• The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood.

Subtypes of Autism Include:

• Autistic disorder

• Asperger's syndrome

• Rett syndrome

• Childhood disintegrative disorder

• Pervasive developmental disorder

ADHD:• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one

of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behaviour, and hyperactivity (over-activity).

• ADHD is a condition of the brain that affects a person's ability to pay attention. It is most common in school-age children.

Children who have symptoms of inattention may:• Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch

from one activity to another.

• Have difficulty focusing on one thing.

• Become bored with a task after only a few minutes.

• Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new.

• Not seem to listen when spoken to

• Daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly

• Have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others

• Struggle to follow instructions.

Children who have symptoms of hyperactivity may:

• Fidget and squirm in their seats

• Talk nonstop

• Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight

• Have trouble sitting still during dinner, school, and story time

• Be constantly in motion

• Have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities.

Children who have symptoms of impulsivity may:

• Be very impatient

• Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions without restraint, and act without regard for consequences

• Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games

• Often interrupt conversations or others' activities.

What causes ADHD:

• In most cases, the cause of ADHD is unknown. The most likely cause of ADHD appears to be genetics. Many children with ADHD have a family history of the disorder or behaviours associated with ADHD.

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