Expressive / Receptive Language

Expressive language is the ability to verbally communicate your thoughts, ideas and feelings in order to have your needs met and be successful in school and work. Expressive language difficulties include:

• Limited babbling or emergence of first words around 1 year of age
• Limited vocabulary- typically children have 50 words by 18 months of age
• Using two-word combinations or simple sentences
• Proper use of syntax (word order) and grammar (rules of using words in a language)
• Telling a story
• Giving directions
• Asking questions
• Communicating daily needs

Receptive language is the ability to understand language. These skills are necessary to perform in school and at work. As a child progresses in school, the language demands increase and direct language instruction can help a student access their curriculum with more success. Receptive language difficulties include:

• Lack of imitation skills
• Unresponsive to sounds, toys or faces
• Following Directions
• Answering questions
• Understanding vocabulary (i.e. multiple meanings of words and how syntax and grammar affect meaning of a sentence)
• Higher Order Thinking Skills (i.e. inferencing, summarizing, paraphrasing, problem solving, using abstract or idiomatic language)
• Difficulty acquiring reading skills and comprehending what is read