Language Disorder

Question 1

What is Language Disorder?

Answer 1

Difficulties in the acquisition and use of language across modalities (i.e., spoken, written, sign language, or other) due to deficits in comprehension or production that include the following:

1. Reduced vocabulary (word knowledge and use).
2. Limited sentence structure (ability to put words and word endings together to form sentences based on the rules of grammar and morphology).
3. Impairments in discourse (ability to use vocabulary and connect sentences to explain or describe a topic or series of events or have a conversation).

Language abilities are substantially below peers their age.
Onset is early in developmental period.

Question 2

What features are associated and support diagnosis?

Answer 2

A positive family history of language disorders is often present. Affected individuals may prefer to communicate only with family members or other familiar individuals. Language disorder, particularly expressive deficits, may co-occur with speech sound disorder.

Question 3

Describe Prognostic factors for LD.

Answer 3

Children with receptive language impairments have a poorer prognosis than those with predominantly expressive impairments.

Question 4

What are the genetic risk factors?

Answer 4

Language disorders are highly heritable, and family members are more likely to have a history of language impairment.

Question 5

What other diagnoses are comorbid with LD?

Answer 5

specific learning disorder, ADHD, ASD, and developmental coordination disorder. It is
also associated with social (pragmatic) communication disorder.