Which of the following are examples of receptive language (understanding) versus expressive language?

1. Following instructions like “get the book and put it on the table”
2. Looking for shoes when someone asks “Where are your shoes?”
3. Finding the picture of a car in a book when someone says “look, a car!”
4. Saying “I need help”
5. Writing the word “ball”
6. Using sign language to ask for more of something

 


​Answer: 1-3 are examples of receptive language skills
4-6 are examples of expressive language skills

Receptive language includes understanding words and concepts. Expressive language includes using gestures, signs or words to communicate ideas. Early on, children typically understand more than they can express. Sometimes children appear to understand words and instructions but they may be relying on other cues (e.g., pointing, doing what everyone else is doing) or following familiar routines. Children with language difficulties often need MANY more meaningful exposures to a word before they understand it and can use it expressively. Understanding language is important for participating in conversations and for success in school.

If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development, call for a free phone consultation.

Will my child be confused if I speak 2 languages at home?

1. Yes
2. No

Answer: #2

Bilingualism does NOT cause language delays. In fact, there are many benefits to learning more than one language. Your child may not become equally proficient in both languages but if your child has a true language delay, they will have difficulty in both languages. 

If you have concerns about your child's speech and language skills, call for a free phone consultation.

If your child has multiple speech sound errors, how do you decide what to work on first?

1. The child’s age
2. The types of errors
3. The frequency of the sounds in the child’s language
4. Stimulability (e.g., whether the child can imitate the sounds)
5. Personal factors
6. Can’t we just work on all of them at the same time?

 

ANSWER: #1-5 and MORE

Learning to produce new speech sounds is hard work! Trying to work on too many things at once will make it more difficult for a child to master these new skills. Speech-language pathologists assess speech skills to understand the nature and severity of the child’s difficulties then prioritize what to work on first in therapy. The child’s age is a starting point, but it is also important to consider what will have the biggest impact on the child’s overall clarity. Some speech sounds occur more frequently than others (e.g., “r” is more common in English than “th”). Personal factors (like the sounds in the child’s name) should also be considered.

If you have concerns about your child's speech and language skills, call for a free phone consultation.

Which of the following types of words are MOST beneficial to teach your toddler?

1. Letters
2. Numbers
3. Colors
4. Shapes
5. Verbs


Answer: #5
Toddlers learn language in everyday routines and activities. They need vocabulary that they can use to communicate basic wants and needs. This includes names for familiar people and things, adjectives (describing words), and verbs (action words). At around 2 years of age, toddlers should be putting short phrases together (e.g., "eat cookie", "Mama come"), then longer sentences will come. Verbs are necessary for making sentences. Academic vocabulary (e.g., letter names, colors) is less of a priority at these early stages.

If you have concerns about your child's speech and language skills, call for a free phone consultation.

How do you know if you can count what your child says as a “word”?
Something your child says that is…

1. Used intentionally (e.g., saying “Mama” when they see you enter the room)
2. Used independently (e.g., saying “water” without being prompted)
   
3. Used consistently (e.g., saying “ball” on multiple occasions)
4. Mispronounced (e.g., saying “da” for “dog”)

 
Answer: #1 AND #2 AND #3
(#4 is ok too!)
A word is anything your child says intentionally, independently AND consistently (this includes signs!). You can count animal sounds (e.g., “moo”) and words like “uh oh” as long as they meet these criteria. Don’t worry about pronunciation when your child is just starting to use words.
Remember, word count is just one aspect of language development. If you have concerns about your child's speech and language skills, call for a free phone consultation.