PROBLEMS WITH LANGUAGE

MIXED RECEPTIVE-EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE DISORDER

 Topics in Mental Health

By Shlomo Y. Radcliffe

What is Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder?

If your child has trouble expressing him or herself using spoken language and has trouble understanding what is said to him or her, then he or she may have mixed receptive-expressive language disorder. Children with such communication difficulties may also develop spelling and reading disorders later on. In addition, many children with receptive-expressive language problems have other disorders as well- such as phonological disorder (articulation difficulties) or attention-deficit disorder. When untreated, receptive-expressive language disorder sometimes leads to emotional and/or behavioral problems due to poor social interaction and resultant frustration.

Symptoms of Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder (DSM-IV Criteria)

In order to properly diagnose a person with mixed receptive-expressive language disorder the person must meet the following criteria:

 As measured by standardized individual tests, the child’s receptive and expressive language development scores are significantly lower than his or her scores for nonverbal intellectual capacity. (In other words, the child’s communication skills and ability to comprehend language are lower than expected based on other measures of the child’s intelligence.) The child may have the same problems as with Expressive Language Disorder; and as well may have problems understanding words, sentences, or specific classes of words.

• The child does not meet the criteria for a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD).
• The disorder interferes with educational achievement or with social communication.
• If the child has Mental Retardation, environmental deprivation or a speech-motor or sensory deficit as well, the problems with language are worse than would be expected from those disorders alone.

 Treating Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder

It is important to treat mixed receptive-expressive language disorder as soon as possible, in order to achieve a positive outcome. Therapy usually involves teaching the child specific learning, reading and communication skills. Constant one-on-one treatment focusing on specific language skills is also recommended. Early intervention leads to the best results.