Language Disorder Support for Children
Conversations, classroom instructions, and simple daily interactions can feel like an uphill climb for a child with a language disorder. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center works with families in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, in person or virtually, to identify language disorders early and build a therapy plan around each child's specific needs.
What Is A Language Disorder?
A language disorder is a reduced ability to understand, use, or apply language in everyday situations. Children with language deficits often have trouble communicating clearly, following along in conversation, or interacting with peers and adults.
As a result, speech-language pathologists play a key role in helping children build these skills from the ground up, often beginning during the early intervention years when foundational communication patterns first take shape.
What Do Language Disorders Look Like?
Receptive Language
Receptive language refers to the comprehension of language information. For example, this includes knowledge of vocabulary words and concepts (e.g., under, above, next to), understanding sentence structure (e.g., plural, past-tense verbs), and interpreting nonliteral information (e.g., metaphors, sarcasm).
Receptive Language Skills:
Understanding concepts and vocabulary
Remembering the sequence of a story or event
Turn-taking in play and in conversation
Following directions
These are just a few examples of receptive language skills your child may rely on daily, and it is important to remember that language development can look different depending on a child's age, environment, and individual pace of growth.
Expressive Language
Expressive language refers to the methods and skills a child uses to communicate with others. For example, a child might use cohesive phrases and sentences, gestures and intonation to communicate with others. It is important for children to use age-appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and sentence length to communicate clearly with others.
These are just a few examples of expressive language skills your child may rely on daily, and it is important to remember that language development can look different depending on a child's age, environment, and individual pace of growth.
Expressive Language Skills:
Naming objects
Speaking words and sentences
Asking questions
Keeping conversations going or initiating conversations
Pragmatic Language
Pragmatic language refers to the social skills required to engage appropriately with others. For example, this includes reading facial expressions and body language, anticipating the responses of others, reading emotions, engaging in conversation, and using eye contact, among other skills. These are important skills for relating to others, getting wants and needs met, being successful in daily interactions, and participating in activities in the community.
Pragmatic Language Skills:
Using eye contact during conversation
Responding to questions from others
Starting and continuing conversations on topic
Interpreting body language, facial expression, and tone of voice
Interpreting sarcasm and inferring unspoken information
These are just a few examples of pragmatic language skills your child may rely on daily, and it is important to remember that language development can look different depending on a child's age, environment, and individual pace of growth.
How Can Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center Help?
We utilize evidence-based treatment approaches to improve your child's language disorders and support clear communication. Our language therapy will improve your child's abilities to clearly express themselves and use age-appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. We support your child's receptive language skills by increasing understanding and their ability to follow directions.
Since language and social communication often develop hand in hand, some families explore the full range of speech, language, and social skills services to address multiple areas at once.
You will receive one-on-one services that identify the root issue holding your child back, create an individualized treatment plan, and use research-proven approaches to help your child succeed.
Why Choose ETLC?
What Families Are Saying
"We are thrilled with the progress our daughter has made at Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center! It's been amazing to see her reach her goals in such a short amount of time. Her expanding vocabulary has made conversations more meaningful, and we've noticed she's asking more questions and engaging more deeply in topics. Taylor has built a strong connection with her and found ways to motivate her that make sessions both fun and productive. We are so grateful for Taylor's support in building her communication skills and confidence."
"We are so grateful for Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center. Our son was diagnosed with a developmental language disorder, and since starting speech therapy here, we've seen incredible growth. He is more confident in himself, excited to learn, and making so much progress toward his goals. His therapist is patient, encouraging, and truly invested in his success. We feel so thankful to have such a supportive and caring team walking alongside our son and our family. From the beginning, the team at ETLC has been amazing."
"Since our son started speech therapy at Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center, we have seen growth in his verbal communication. This has positively enhanced his performance in school. Our son always looks forward to attending his speech sessions. The entire staff at Enrichment TLC is phenomenal! The reception at this place makes every individual feel they belong. We are grateful!"
"Our daughter has made a lot of progress in the last few weeks. She will make herself a sandwich, fill her cup, get herself dressed, and play on the Nintendo Switch. Last week, when the rest of the family was talking, she was busy drawing, and she told us, 'Be quiet; I am focusing.' We all laughed with joy. Those of us who have been working with her on her communication skills know this was a new milestone."
How Do I Get Started?
1. Start The Conversation
The first step is to reach out if you have a concern. We start with a conversation to learn about your child, answer your questions, and help guide your family toward the best next step, whether that is a screening, consultation, or evaluation.
2. Schedule A Consultation
Once scheduled, families complete an online intake so our team can tailor the evaluation to your concerns. After the evaluation, we meet with you to review the results and recommendations and answer your questions.
3. Receive An Individualized Plan
Your child receives a custom treatment plan with specific, measurable goals based on their unique needs. Depending on the provider, your insurance may cover our services. If it does not, we are transparent about cost.
4. Build Skills & Confidence
Through personalized one-on-one sessions, we help your child build skills and confidence. The length of treatment depends on your child's age, challenges, and progress, and we adjust the plan as your child grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a language delay in children?
A language delay happens when a child has trouble understanding or using words, sentences, or conversation compared to what is expected for their age.
How is a language delay different from a speech delay?
A speech delay affects how a child produces sounds and words, including articulation and speech clarity. A language delay affects how a child understands or uses words, sentences, vocabulary, and concepts to communicate. In simple terms, speech is how words are said, while language involves what words mean and how they are used. A child can have a speech delay, a language delay, or difficulties in both areas.
What are the signs of a language disorder?
Signs of a language disorder can include difficulty understanding directions or questions, learning and using new vocabulary, combining words into sentences, expressing thoughts clearly, or participating in conversations. Children may also have trouble with grammar, answering questions, telling organized stories, reading, or writing. Language disorders can affect receptive language, which is what a child understands, expressive language, which is what a child communicates, or both.
How do speech therapists treat language disorders?
Speech-language pathologists first evaluate how a child understands and uses language to identify specific areas of difficulty. Therapy is then individualized to build skills such as vocabulary, sentence formation, following directions, answering questions, comprehension, storytelling, and conversational language. Therapists may use structured exercises as well as play, books, games, and everyday interactions to practice these skills and help children use them more consistently outside of therapy.
Can a language delay affect reading later?
Yes. Spoken language provides an important foundation for later reading and academic development. Children who have difficulty understanding vocabulary, sentences, concepts, or the structure of stories may also experience challenges with reading comprehension and written language. Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center notes that narrative language, or the ability to understand and tell organized stories, is strongly connected to reading comprehension and academic success.
Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?
Reach out today to schedule a consultation with ETLC's speech-language pathologists and learning specialists in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available.