Language Disabilities in ChildrenDevelopmental Language DelaysSchool Age Language DisabilitiesDevelopmental Language Delays (DLD)Delay in language skills compared to peersCan be in any part of languageForm, Content, UseNot language differences/dialectsInfant and pre school agesWide varietyDelays may beExpressive or receptiveMild or severeCan occur even before the child uses first wordsPre language skillsGestures, joint attention, poor social skillsLanguage Disabilities in ChildrenSymptomsFirst sign – late onset of first wordsSlow progression to 2 words and moreSlow vocabulary and concept developmentSlow to use language to interact sociallyDelays pre-reading and early academic skillsMay also be slow in developing speechCausesPrenatal – during gestationMaternal ageAdequacy of prenatal careMaternal health and nutritionDrug use during pregnancyFamily history of developmental delaysPerinatal – at or around the time of birthPrematurityLow birth weightBrain hemorrhageRespiratory problemsHyperbilirubinemiaPostnatal – after birthBonding and attachment issuesSocioeconomic statusEducational level of parentsChronic otitis mediaConditions that may include DLDGenetic and chromosomal disordersSensory deficitsNeurological impairmentsExposure to drugs and alcoholAutism and pervasive developmental disordersSpecific language impairmentGenetic and chromosomal disordersDown syndromeFragile X syndromeUsually display global developmental disorders/delaysDevelop speech language skills in same order as typically developing children but at a slower rateDevelopmental Language DelaysSensory deficits (hearing and vision)Visual impairment aloneSome genetic and/or birth defects affect bothHearing deficitsNeurological ConditionsCerebral palsyMany have delays in language development and many have cognitive deficitsMotor control and speech deficits commonMany need an augmentative/alternative communication systemLanguage Disabilities in Children- Developmental Language Delays- School Age Language Disabilities←← Developmental Language Delays (DLD)- Delay in language skills compared to peerso Can be in any part of language Form, Content, Useo Not language differences/dialectso Infant and pre school ages- Wide varietyo Delays may be  Expressive or receptive Mild or severe- Can occur even before the child uses first wordso Pre language skills Gestures, joint attention, poor social skills←← Language Disabilities in Children- Symptomso First sign – late onset of first wordso Slow progression to 2 words and moreo Slow vocabulary and concept developmento Slow to use language to interact sociallyo Delays pre-reading and early academic skillso May also be slow in developing speech- Causeso Prenatal – during gestation Maternal age Adequacy of prenatal care Maternal health and nutrition Drug use during pregnancy Family history of developmental delayso Perinatal – at or around the time of birth Prematurity Low birth weight Brain hemorrhage Respiratory problems Hyperbilirubinemiao Postnatal – after birth Bonding and attachment issues Socioeconomic status Educational level of parents Chronic otitis media- Conditions that may include DLDo Genetic and chromosomal disorderso Sensory deficitso Neurological impairmentso Exposure to drugs and alcoholo Autism and pervasive developmental disorderso Specific language impairment- Genetic and chromosomal disorderso Down syndromeo Fragile X syndromeo Usually display global developmental disorders/delayso Develop speech language skills in same order as typically developing children but at a slower rate←← Developmental Language Delays- Sensory deficits (hearing and vision)o Visual impairment aloneo Some genetic and/or birth defects affect botho Hearing deficits- Neurological Conditionso Cerebral palsyo Many have delays in language development and many have cognitive deficitso Motor control and speech deficits commono Many need an augmentative/alternative communication systemlanguage = semanticsAutism Spectrum Disorders - Impaired social awareness (pragmatics)o Lack of eye contact, facial expressiono Failure to develop peer/family relationships or interactiono Avoids physical contact- Impaired communication skillso Delay or lack of spoken language with no attempt to communicate in any other wayo Inability to initiate or sustain a conversation o Repetitive/stereotypical speech (echolalia)- Stereotypical/repetitive patterns of behavioro Preoccupation with restricted interesto Inflexible adherence to specific, non-functional routineso Repetitive or stereotypical motor movements- Sensory Issueso Hypersensitivity to sensory informationo Abnormal sensory responsesConditions that may include DLD- Genetic and chromosomal disorders- Sensory deficits (hearing/vision)- Neurological impairments- Exposure to drugs/alcohol- Autism and pervasive developmental disorders (PDD)- Specific language impairment (SLI)Children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI)- Language delay NOT the result of ANY SPECIFIC identifiable condition- Usually etiology is never found- Some studies show very subtle changes in brain structures in kids with SLI... but no exact correlation- More boys then girls- Usually a family history of language and learning problems. - Language Characteristics of SLI (vary across children)o May be in just expressive language or receptive language or botho Limited vocabularyo Shorter utterances (average: 5 year old using 5 words)o Problems with syntactic ruleso Often have reading problems when school age.Identifying DLD- Some can be identified at birth- Normal variation in language development makes diagnosis more difficult- Use what we know about normal development to judge disorders- Chart on pg. 342 shows normal development- Variations with children who are learning two languages simultaneously or subsequently. Assessment for DLD- Good assessment needs multiple measures- Norm-referenced tests- standardized to compare to other children of same age- Criterion-referenced tests- looks at performance on developmentally appropriate tasks (often checklist)- Parent report valuable- Is an on-going process-changes rapidly10/14Language Sampling- A way to assess language in children without using any tests- Play activity- Know what you are looking for- Measure mean length of utterance (MLU) in morphemes- Greater number of morphemes indicate more complex use of languageTreatment for DLD- Some services mandated by federal law-