Language Problems
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: Speech and Language Issues, Expressive Language Disorder, Receptive Language Disorder (Auditory Processing Disorder)
Receptive Language Problems
- Does not respond to questions appropriately
- Cannot think abstractly or comprehend abstractions as idioms ("mind sharp as a tack"; "eyes dancing in the dark")
- Cannot retain information presented verbally
- Has difficulty following oral directions
- Cannot detect breakdowns in communication
- Misses parts of material presented verbally, particularly less concrete words such as articles (the book; a book) and auxiliary verbs and tense markers ("He was going"; "She is going")
- Cannot recall sequences of ideas presented orally
- May confuse the sounds of letters that are similar (b, d; m, n) or reverse the order of sounds and syllables in words (was, saw)
- Has difficulty understanding humor or figurative language
- Has difficulty comprehending concepts showing quantity, function, comparative size, and temporal and spatial relationships
- Has difficulty comprehending compound and complex sentences
Expressive Language Problems
- Uses incorrect grammar or syntax ("They walk down together the hill"; "I go not to school")
- Lacks specificity ("It's over there by the place over there")
- Frequently hesitates ("You know, um, I would, um, well, er, like a, er, soda")
- Jumps from topic to topic ("What are feathers? Well, I like to go hunting with my uncle")
- Has limited use of vocabulary
- Has trouble finding the right word to communicate meaning (word finding)
- Uses social language poorly (inability to change communication style to fit specific situations, to repair communication breakdowns, and to maintain the topic during a conversation)
- Is afraid to ask questions, does not know what questions to ask, or does not know how to ask a question
- Repeats same information again and again in a conversation
- Has difficulty discussing abstract, temporal, or spatial concepts
- Often does not provide enough information to the listener (saying, "We had a big fight with them," when we and them are not explained)
Sources: Adapting Instruction in General Education for Students with Communication Disorders, by D. Barad, 1985, unpublished manuscript, De Kalb: Northern Illinois University; and Strategies for Teaching Students with Learning and Behavior Problems (6th ed.), by C. S. Bos and S. Vaughn, 2005. Copyright © 2005 by Allyn & Bacon. Reprinted by permission.
Excerpt from Including Students With Special Needs: A Practical Guide for Classroom Teachers , by M. Friend & W.D. Bursuck, 2009 edition, p. 246.
© 2009, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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