User:Ridakazmi2/Language disorder

Language disorders or language impairments are disorders that involve the processing of linguistic information. It is a condition that can have a significant impact on ones ability to use and understand language. Problems that may be experienced can involve grammar (syntax and/or morphology), semantics (meaning), or other aspects of language. These problems may be receptive (involving impaired language comprehension), expressive (involving language production), or a combination of both. Examples include specific language impairment, better defined as developmental language disorder, or DLD, and aphasia, among others. Language disorders can affect both spoken and written language, and can also affect sign language; typically, all forms of language will be impaired.

Grammar is the underlying rules that organize any language. It is composed of syntax and morphology. Morphology is more focused on the within-word context, whereas syntax focuses on the between-word structure. In syntax, there are rules that dictate the type of words and their order as well as the way questions are formulated.

Semantics is the study of meaning and it includes the study of vocabulary (which is lexicon). According to well-defined rules, the mental dictionary allows young children to learn up to 10 words per day. At the age of 2 years, children typically know more than 50 words. Vocabulary size is typically used to best predict academic success amongst young children.

The root of language disorders is phonology. This is the ability for one to produce and discriminate specific sounds of a given language. Babies begin to use their phonemes within their first few months of life.

Based on the severity of the language disorder, it can be manifested in different ways. The following include common language disorders:

Receptive language disorders
Receptive language disorders can be acquired—as in the case of receptive aphasia, or developmental (most often the latter). When developmental, difficulties in spoken language tend to occur before three years of age. Usually such disorders are accompanied by expressive language disorders.

However, unique symptoms and signs of a receptive language disorder include: struggling to understand meanings of words and sentences, struggling to put words in proper order, and inability to follow verbal instruction.

Expressive language disorders
Expressive aphasia is characterized by partial loss of the ability to produce language, although comprehension generally remains intact; it can sometimes be a result of stroke, trauma, or tumors. Other expressive language disorders may impair not only voice and articulation, but also the mental formation of language, itself.

Expressive language disorders can occur during a child's development or they can be acquired. This acquisition usually follows a normal neurological development and is brought about by a number of causes such as head trauma or irradiation.

Features of an expressive language disorder vary, but have certain features in common such as: limited vocabulary, inability to produce complex grammar, and more lexical errors.

If it is a developmental disorder, the child will have difficulty acquiring new words and grammatical structures. The child will often begin speaking later than his/her peers and progress at a slower rate linguistically. Due to the very nature of these disorders, the child may struggle with academics and socializing with peers.

Experts that commonly treat such disorders include speech pathologists and audiologists.

Childhood language disorders
During childhood the most common type of disruption in communication is a language disorder. These disorders can develop in one or more areas of language development, including speech, language, and social communication skills. In most cases, language development is predicable and referrals for evaluation may be needed in cases where a child's language development is atypical. Language disorders among children are present when a child is experiencing substantial difficulty regarding their language development. Among young children, language disorders have been associated with higher rates of social difficulties and anxiety.These disorders typically are developed at a young age. Research indicates that 7% of young children display language disorder, where boys are twice as likely to develop a language disorder compared to girls.There are multiple factors that can determine the cause of language disorders, including genetics, environmental factors, neurological conditions, and developmental delays. Identifying language disorders in children is crucial to developing effective communication skills.

Aphasia
Aphasia is a language disorder that is caused by damage to the tissue in the language center in the brain. The type of incident that most often causes Aphasia is stroke but can also occur due to traumatic brain injury, infection, tumors, and degenerative brain disorders. Aphasia is a disorder that is acquired, therefore it occurs in individuals that have already developed language. Aphasia does not affect a person's intellect or speech but Instead affects the formulation of language. All areas of language are affected by aphasia including expressive and receptive language abilities. Symptoms of aphasia vary widely but generally are defined by language deficits that affect fluency, the ability to talk, reading, writing, and comprehension. There are many types of aphasia that vary in symptoms depending upon where in the language center of the brain the damage occurred. The aphasias can be categorized as different aphasic syndromes depending upon the location of lesion and the symptoms that differentiate the aphasias from one another. Global aphasia is a type of aphasia that occurs in people where a large portion of the language center of the brain has been damaged and results in deficits in all modalities of language. Broca's aphasia, also referred to as expressive aphasia, is an aphasic syndrome in which there is damage in left hemisphere, specifically in the Broca's area, of the brain. Broca's aphasia may affect an individual's ability to produce speech while comprehension remains intact.

Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by neurological damage due to an open or closed head injury. The most frequent causes of head injury include motor vehicle accidents, assault, gun related incidents, and falls, TBI is categorized as either mild, moderate or severe and can affect cognitive, psychosocial, and linguistic skills. Language skills that may be affected include comprehension, motor output, word finding, and difficulties with reading.

Classification
In order to help distinguish between language disorders, they are often categorized as either primary disorders of language, secondary disorders of langue, acquired or developmental. A primary language disorder is one that cannot be attributed to an underlying disorder and is solely responsible for the language disturbance while a secondary language disorder is the result of another disorder. Language disorders can also be categorized as developmental or acquired. A developmental language disorder is present at birth while an acquired language disorder occurs at some point after birth. Acquired language disorders can often be attributed to injuries within the brain due to occurrences such as stroke or Traumatic brain injury.

= Treatment = Some ways to improve and treat the disorder include: speech therapy, language intervention programs and other supportive therapies.Treatment options include: language therapy, special education classes for children at school, and a psychologist if accompanying behavioral problems are present.