Language Disorders

Language disorders are diagnosed when children do not meet specific milestones within 12 months of the specified development or there is a suspected birth defect, such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, etc.

Language disorders can occur in children with or without any other co-occurring diagnosis (happening at the same time or causing the language disorder).

Language disorders in children can be developmental in nature, meaning the child’s language is not developing or following the rules of the language system. It can also be caused by the environment the child is in. Usually, language disorders in children are caused when a child is developmentally delayed or there is a co-occurring diagnosis that is affecting speech or language development.

After a developmental psychologist, speech-language pathologist, developmental pediatrician, neurologist, and/or geneticist determines the diagnosis, therapy should begin. Researchers have found that the younger a child receives consistent therapy, the better the outcome. This therapy is called habilitation.