Watching your child struggle with everyday life can be unbearable for a parent, especially when their difficulties extend to school. There are a number of speech and language disorders that can inhibit communication and growth; if you notice any or all of the following symptoms in your child’s behavior, they may have one of the many receptive language disorders.
They Seem Uninterested Whenever People are Talking
This happens at home and in school, manifesting as complete disinterest (such as the lack of response in terms of making comments and asking questions), and teachers may think they aren’t listening or paying attention. Since receptive language disorders have more to do with the processing and understanding of language than its actual use, lack of interest or attention is a result of the child literally not comprehending the conversation — what is being said has little or no meaning to them and they don’t know how to respond, so they don’t.
They Have Difficulty Following Directions
At home, your child may mindlessly nod along to a request you’ve made (such as a simple chore) and then proceed to “blow it off” or only perform a portion of it. Their teacher may report that they can only follow steps that are broken down significantly, or that they simply wait to see what other kids are doing and then copy them. Since receptive speech disorders make it difficult for them to understand what is being asked, they won’t know how to react. Speech therapy and listening skill training can have a big impact, especially in school where instructions and directions are vital to the learning process.
They Consistently Misunderstand What is Being Said or Asked of Them
If you ask your child how they’re doing and they respond with what they’re doing or ask you to repeat the question, they may have a receptive speech disorder. Questions asked at school may incite seemingly off-base answers.
Any of these signs may indicate that your child is struggling with receptive language disorders, which can be disruptive to both social development and education. Fortunately, parents and teachers can help kids overcome these obstacles. Speech therapy for children can be extremely effective, but too many kids who could benefit from this therapy never get properly diagnosed. That’s why it’s so important to be on the lookout for these common signs of receptive language disorders.
