There are several different types of communication disorders, including the following:

• Expressive language disorder: Expressive language disorder identifies developmental delays and difficulties in the ability to produce speech.
• Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder: Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder identifies developmental delays and difficulties in the ability to understand spoken language and produce speech.

Causes of Communication Disorders

Communication disorders may be developmental or acquired. The cause is believed to be based on biological problems such as abnormalities of brain development or possibly by exposure to toxins during pregnancy, such as abused substances or environmental toxins such as lead. A genetic factor is sometimes considered a contributing cause in some cases.

Who Is Affected by Communication Disorders?

For unknown reasons, boys are diagnosed with communication disorders more often than girls. Children with communication disorders frequently have other psychiatric disorders as well.

The following are the most common symptoms of communication disorders. However, each child may experience symptoms differently.

Young children with communication disorders may not speak at all or may have a limited vocabulary for their age. Some children with communication disorders have difficulty understanding simple directions or are unable to name objects. Most children with communication disorders are able to speak by the time they enter school. However, they continue to have problems with communication.

School-aged children often have problems understanding and formulating words. Teens may have more difficulty with understanding or expressing abstract ideas.

The symptoms of communication disorders may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.