Preschool Language & Delay Disorders
What is Language and Preschool Language Disorder?
Children develop language at a fairly predictable rate. Language basically refers to the sentence structure we use in communication. In language development, children learn the rules for word meanings and how to combine words into sentences. During the preschool years children learn almost 90% of the rules that they will use to make sentences as adults. When a child fails to attain certain milestones in communication development he/she is said to have a language disorder. For example, normally developing preschool children should reach certain critical milestones by the ages listed below:
Age Milestones
12 Months The child should be using pointing gestures to communicate and use some single words.
18 Months The child should experience a large increase in vocabulary words (the vocabulary spurt) and begin to link some words into two word combinations.
24 Months The child should routinely use combinations of 2, 3 and 4 words (e.g. "Mommy run", "Daddy eat apple", "Mommy eat Daddy Sandwich").
36 Months The child should be constructing simple sentences using word endings (e. g. "-ing", "plural –s", "past tense –ed") and use some smaller words in sentences such as "is", "the", "in", "on", etc.
48 Months The child should be able to construct more complex sentences using conjunctions (e.g. "and", "but", etc.) and combine two sentences together by "embedding" them (e.g. "The kitty ate the mouse that lives in the hole.")
If a child, for example, is three years old and is only using single words to communicate, he/she is said to have a language delay or disorder. Similarly, if a child is two years old and is not using words at all, a disorder of language is probably present.
Assessment of Preschool Language Disorders
Evaluations are typically scheduled for a two hour block of time in the Auburn University Speech and Hearing Clinic. The clinic is equipped with rooms suitable for adults as well as several playrooms containing toys for children of various ages. The clinic also has observation facilities in which we can observe clients through one-way mirrors and listen through microphones without interfering with normal interactions. When a preschool child is brought to the clinic for an evaluation we will examine the following areas:
- Case History & Interview: A detailed case history form will be sent to the parents several weeks before the evaluation takes place. Parents know their children better than anyone else so we rely on them to give us important information. We will ask about the child’s development, physical health, birth, play activities and social behaviors.
- Standardized Tests: If appropriate, your child will be administered a standardized test of language development to see if he/she is performing within normal limits.
- Language Sample: One of the most important parts of the evaluation will be a long sample of your child communicating in a play setting with you and one of our clinicians. We try to make this a natural play interaction and it is videotaped for later analysis of your child’s language and use of gestures. We will also be looking at parental play styles and how you verbally interact with your child.
- Hearing Screening: Every child seen for a language evaluation will undergo a brief hearing screening to rule out any hearing loss that may possibly be causing a language delay.
- Oral Examination: We will want to briefly look in your child’s mouth to make sure that he/she has all the structures and basic movements necessary to produce speech.
After the evaluation, the student clinician and the clinical supervisor will sit down with you and provide a general overview of the examination results. Much of the data gathered during the evaluation will have to be analyzed and scored after you leave the clinic, but in most cases the clinicians will have a general idea of whether or not your child has a language disorder and if treatment is recommended. We will also answer any questions you may have about the evaluation at this time. After all analyses are finished, we will write a detailed evaluation report which includes specific recommendations for treatment. This report will be mailed to you and to any other professionals you request.