Understanding Expressive Language Disorder: A Guide for Parents

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Expressive language disorder (ELD) is a condition that causes below-average vocabulary development. This typically includes difficulty saying complex sentences and remembering the right words in conversation. Unlike receptive language disorders, which impact a child's ability to understand words they hear or read, ELD is strictly related to a child's ability to express themselves verbally and in writing.

As a result, your child can have trouble in school and socializing. Because identifying symptoms of expressive language disorders is challenging, we created a comprehensive guide to help you recognize the signs, understand the possible impacts, and access available support strategies to help your child enhance their communication abilities.

Signs and Symptoms of Expressive Language Disorders

The common signs and symptoms of an expressive language disorder typically include the following:

Below-average vocabulary skills
Improper use of past, present, and future tenses
Difficulty forming complex sentences and remembering words
Difficulty answering Wh-questions (e.g., Who, what, where, etc.)
Challenges expressing wants and needs or telling stories, sharing ideas, or expressing thoughts
Improper grammar
Using incomplete phrases and sentences

Below-average vocabulary skills fail to meet age-specific expectations for speech and language development. Some signs of expressive language delays include:

A baby girl wearing a pink shirt that says princess

Early signs

7 months to a year

Can't imitate different speech sounds
Can't say one or two first words, such as mama or dada, by their first birthday

Three children are sitting next to each other reading books.

Signs in Toddlers

1 to 2 years

Doesn't use new words regularly
Doesn't use a few one- or two-word questions
Can't put two words together

A group of children are sitting next to each other on a couch.

Preschool Indicators

2 to 3 Years

Doesn't know words for almost everything
Doesn't use two- or three-word phrases to talk about and ask for things
Isn't understood by family members and friends
Can't name or ask for objects

3 to 4 Years

Doesn't talk about their daily activities
Never says sentences with four or more words
Can't speak easily without stumbling or repeating sounds or words

4 to 5 Years

Never gives details when speaking
Can't stay on topic when speaking
Has difficulty communicating with other children and adults
Never uses rhyming words or adult grammar

If your child isn't meeting these milestones, they could have an ELD.

ELD Impact on Daily Life and Learning

ELDs make it hard for children to speak and write but does not reflect their intelligence. The disorder causes a difference in the processing of words and word information, which makes it difficult to find the right words to express thoughts and feelings.

Academic Challenges

As a result, it impacts a child's school performance, relationships with family, and ability to develop relationships outside the home. Because kids don't outgrow ELD, it is important to identify the signs before your child enters preschool.

Social and Emotional Effects

Without proper interventions for expressive vocabulary issues, a child will continue to experience communication difficulties. This can lead to behavioral issues out of frustration, such as becoming defiant or acting out. A child might also withdraw or become too vague in written and spoken language. This leads to issues in learning and socializing as their behavior is misunderstood, which makes it appear they have the following issues:

Poor academic skills
Difficulty learning English if English is not their first language
Having a difficult personality
Anti-social behavior

Common challenges that impact a child's ability to achieve proper expressive speech include:

Using vague words that make it difficult to understand their meaning
Speaking and writing in noticeably short sentences
Struggling with grammar
Acting out at home, socially, and at school when not understood
Having a limited vocabulary that interferes with their conversational and writing skills
Struggling with paraphrasing
Inability to take effective notes
Hesitancy to join in conversations
Copying what others say to be included among peers or family conversations
Trouble telling stories in a logical order or without losing track
Low self-esteem

Support and Treatment

Options for ELD

Standardized expressive language and nonverbal intellectual tests are available to help diagnose ELDs. If you find your child struggling with any of the above challenges or showing signs and symptoms of ELD, it is crucial to speak to a child speech-language pathologist (SLP) to run tests for disorders and learning disabilities. You can also speak to your family doctor.

Can Expressive Language Disorder Be Cured?

While there isn't a "cure" for ELD, speech therapy is the most effective treatment for increasing vocabulary and the number of phrases your child uses. A child SLP specializes in evaluating and treating children who have difficulty expressing language. They can help you understand how to manage your child's expressive communication issues and provide practical solutions.

Therapy Approaches

Treatment plans are customized to meet your child's specific needs using engaging one-on-one sessions that help improve their communication skills. They focus on helping your child use more words, phrases, and sentences to communicate their wants, feelings, and thoughts. They also help improve grammar and vocabulary and formulate complete sentences to improve their academic performance.

Parent Communication Strategies

Early communication strategies at home can also help improve your child's communication skills, including:

Read to your child to model proper grammar, use of language, labeling, and expanding vocabulary.
Ask questions about stories or their day to help them learn to form and express their thoughts.
Share your stories about your day and carry on conversations to expose them to more words and phrases without putting too much pressure on them to participate.
Always model correct language to teach by example with gentle, conversational interactions. Repeat what they say properly, such as correcting "Him is funny" by saying, "Yes he is funny."
When your child starts speech therapy, try introducing advanced word combinations, new words, and phrases to help them improve, such as adding colors or adjectives to what they do. For example, if they say, "Apples sweet," respond with, "Yes, I like sweet red apples too."
Avoid open-ended answers and present choices such as, "Would you like peanut butter or jam on your toast?" instead of, "What would you like on your toast?"

Teach them to sing along with songs to learn new words and phrases and how to express different emotions and feelings.