Listening and Learning: Receptive Language Development in Children

Imagine you’re trying to learn a new language. You might memorize vocabulary and study grammar. But when you go to practice speaking with someone, you can’t follow the conversation! This illustrates the multifaceted nature of language–it isn’t just about speaking but about listening, too. That’s why receptive language development in children is so important.

The pediatric speech therapists at Skills on the Hill can help children develop in all areas of language and communication, not just speech. Many of the kids we work with actually have language disorders, not speech disorders. Furthermore, we can divide language disorders into two categories: expressive language disorders and receptive language disorders.

Today, we want to focus on the latter. What exactly is a receptive language disorder? What are the signs and symptoms? And how can our Washington, DC or Arlington, VA pediatric therapists help address it?

Understanding Language Disorders in Children

Many people associate speech therapy with speech disorders. These conditions occur when a child struggles to create sounds or has voice issues. Stuttering is a common example of a speech disorder.

In contrast, language disorders indicate an issue with language itself, not just speaking. As you probably learned in high school Spanish or French class, language encompasses four broad areas: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Children with language disorders will struggle with one or more of those areas.

But what about those two categories of language disorders? Here’s what they mean:

• A child with an expressive language disorder struggles to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings (i.e., speaking and writing).
• A child with a receptive language disorder will struggle to understand what other people say or write.

Children can have any combination of these three disorders. Some may just have one. Some may show signs of all three. If your child has trouble with speech or communication, an assessment is the best way to determine exactly what’s going on.

Signs of Receptive Language Development Difficulties

Receptive language development in children follows certain milestones. As children grow, they learn new listening and understanding skills, which are reflected in their behavior.

A child doesn’t have the vocabulary to tell you when this process isn’t working for them. Instead, their behavior will indicate these difficulties. If you notice any of the following signs, your child may have a receptive language disorder:

• They have a hard time following directions or answering questions.
• When they do answer a question, the answer may seem “off” in some way.
• They don’t take turns in a conversation and may talk over or interrupt while others speak.
• They “tune out” when others speak and ask people to repeat themselves.
• They don’t get jokes.
• They seem withdrawn or shy and don’t respond when people talk to them.

Improving Receptive Language Development with Pediatric Speech Therapy

The good news is that the pediatric speech therapists at Skills on the Hill can help improve receptive language development in children! We’ll conduct an in-depth assessment to pinpoint the source of your child’s difficulties (although not all language disorders have an underlying cause).

Then, we’ll create a customized treatment program focused on improving their language skills in the areas where they struggle the most. We can also guide you, other loved ones, and teachers on how you can help your child improve their listening and understanding skills outside of our clinic.

If your child is showing signs of a receptive language disorder, request an appointment to get started with a comprehensive evaluation.