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By Lindsey Wegner, M.A., CCC-SLP
Many parents struggle with what to look for when they suspect their child has a receptive
language (how well a child understands and remembers what is said) and/or expressive language
(what the child is able to say and how it is said) delay. Listed below are some warning signs that
might help you decide if your child requires further evaluation:
Signs for Possible Receptive Language Delay
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Not responding to their name - A child should be receptive to his name at an early age
(between 12 and 18 months). Meaning a parent or caregiver should not repeatedly call a
child’s name to get his attention unless there is something very interesting going on that
the child is focused on at the time.
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Objects are more interesting than people – A child should be more interested in how to
gain reactions from others than an actual object itself. A lack of interest in people could
mean a lack of interest in communicating.
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Not showing interest in books – Even if a child is not able to sit through an entire book,
he should at least show an interest in the concept of reading. When given a book, he
should demonstrate how to hold it and turn the pages. It is also important to note
the types of books that interest a child. If a child shows more interest in picture books
or books using one word, he could possibly have difficulty with processing auditory
information.
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Difficulty with reading comprehension – If a child is unable to answer questions about
a short story he may have a language delay and need the services of a speech-language
pathologist.
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Difficulty having conversations and forming relationships with others – It is important to
note that as a child gets older, conversations become more in-depth, which can become
more difficult for a child with receptive language delays.
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Forgetting information – A child with receptive language delays may appear lazy or
forgetful when it comes to completing instructed tasks. However, this child may be
having difficulty with understanding and remembering the tasks presented to him. He
may require the information be presented in a different way.
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Not understanding - A child may act out due to not understanding what others are saying.
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Difficulty with following directions – Not only remembering what do to, but
remembering in what order to do it can be hard for a child with receptive language
delays. When presented with too much information, he might be overwhelmed and can
show signs of copying others, pretending to know what to do when he doesn’t, or by
acting out in order to avoid being embarrassed or calling attention to their deficit.
Signs for Possible Expressive Language Delay
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Does not initiate conversations and reply to questions – This may also look like the child
is just shy. It is important that this sign not be overlooked if there is a question about a
possible delay.
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Overgeneralizing names of things – This means that a child has one name for something
that has many types; for example, all drinks may be “juice.” An older child may not be
able to name the object. For example, scissors might be “those things you use to cut
with.”
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Talking in circles – A child should be able to tell a somewhat complete story by 6 or 7 with
decent sequential order. If a child is unable to tell a story or it is unclear what the child is
talking about, it may be a sign of an expressive language delay.
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Difficulty remembering certain names - This is when a child has difficulty remember
names, places, and things. This may be more noticeable in an academic setting.
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Difficulty constructing sentences – Some examples of this include: the words may have
no endings to show plurals (Five cat sleep), lack of possessives (Rachel dog is nice), or
incorrect past tense verbs (She walk to the park yesterday). Some words may be left off a
sentence completely. Please note by the age of four, a child should be able to complete
full sentences with mostly proper grammar.
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help a child with receptive and expressive language
delays. It is important to have your child tested as soon as possible if you suspect your child may
have any delays. SLPs will work with you and other professionals to improve your child’s speech
and language skills.
Resources
Hamaguchi, Patricia M. (2010) Childhood Speech, Language, & Listening Problems Third Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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