How to Recognise and Address Receptive Language Difficulties in Children
Not sure if your child understands you? Here’s how to recognise and address receptive language difficulties in children.
What is Receptive Language?
Receptive language is what we understand. It can be referred to as oral language comprehension or listening comprehension.
What are Receptive Language difficulties?
Receptive language difficulties are when someone has trouble understanding and processing language. Children with receptive language difficulties struggle to comprehend things that are said to them. They might struggle with following instructions, understanding the meaning of words and sentences or find it difficult to follow along with stories and conversations.
Sometimes, receptive language difficulties go unnoticed because children learn how to compensate by talking around the topic of conversation or by redirecting your attention and talking about something else.
Signs of receptive language difficulties:
Recognising receptive language difficulties early can make a significant difference to your child’s communication development. Signs of receptive language difficulties include:
Difficulty following instructions: Your child may struggle to follow simple or multi-step instructions. They may have difficulty understanding instructions with concepts like before, until or under.
Reduced understanding of vocabulary: Your child might not understand common words or phrases that their age-matched peers can.
Challenges with comprehension: This may include difficulty answering questions about stories or re-telling stories.
Struggling to participate in conversations: Your child may have trouble keeping up with conversations or responding appropriately to questions or comments about their daily activities.
Frustration or behavioural issues: Children with receptive language difficulties may become frustrated or act out because they cannot understand what is happening around them.
Difficulty understanding figurative language: Your child may face challenges understanding non-literal language such as idioms or jokes. Figurative language requires a child to “read between the lines” and make connections between their background knowledge and new information.
How to support children with receptive language difficulties:
Seek professional assessment from a speech pathologist as early as possible.
If you suspect your child may have receptive language difficulties, the first step is to consult a speech pathologist. A professional assessment can determine if your child has language difficulties and help develop a tailored intervention plan.
Create a language-rich environment
Surround your child with language rich experiences. Engage in conversations, read together, and talk about what you or your child are doing.
Use visual supports
Visual aids, such as pictures and visual schedules can help reinforce spoken information.
Break down instructions
When giving directions, break them into smaller, more manageable steps. Use clear, simple language and repeat instructions as needed. For example, instead of saying, “Get your book before you sit at the table,” try, “Get your book.” Once they have their book, give the second part of the instruction, “Sit at the table.”
Encourage questions
Create an environment where your child feels comfortable asking questions. Encourage them to seek clarification if they do not understand something. You may model how to ask for help or how to seek clarification.
Use repetition
Reinforce understanding by repeating key concepts and information. Children with language difficulties need to hear new vocabulary multiple times and in multiple different ways or situations. This may include everyday routines, play and book reading!
Collaborate with your child’s team
Collaborate with your child’s speech pathologist and teachers to ensure everyone is on the same page of how to best support your child’s receptive language difficulties.
Monitor progress and adjust strategies
Regularly assess your child’s progress and be open to adjusting strategies as needed. Communication with your child’s speech pathologist and educators will help ensure that interventions continue to work towards your family’s goals.
Receptive language difficulties can present challenges, but with early recognition and targeted intervention, children can make significant progress. By creating a supportive environment, using effective strategies, and collaborating with professionals, you can help your child develop the skills they need to understand and engage with the world around them.