Early Childhood (Birth to Age 5)
- Delayed speech and language development: Not meeting age-appropriate milestones for language comprehension and production
- Difficulty understanding spoken language: Misinterpreting or misunderstanding words, phrases, or sentences
- Impaired expressive language: Limited vocabulary, difficulty forming sentences, or producing clear speech
- Problems with social communication: Difficulty initiating or maintaining conversations, understanding social cues, or using language in social situations
- Repetitive or unusual language patterns: Echolalia (repeating words or phrases), perseveration (repeating words or ideas), or neologisms (creating new words)
School-Age Years (Ages 6 to 12)
- Ongoing language deficits: Continued difficulty with reading, writing, or comprehension
- Problems with academic performance: Lower reading and writing scores, reduced comprehension, and difficulty understanding classroom instruction
- Social communication challenges: Awkward or inappropriate language use, difficulty understanding humor or sarcasm, or problems forming friendships
- Speech and language disorders: Persistent speech sound errors, stuttering, or fluency problems
Adolescence and Adulthood
- Reading and writing difficulties: Slow reading speed, poor comprehension, difficulty with writing essays or reports
- Communication impairments: Trouble understanding or expressing complex ideas, difficulty following conversations, or using appropriate language in social or professional settings
- Social and employment challenges: Limited social opportunities, difficulty holding conversations or building relationships, and obstacles in the workplace
- Co-occurring conditions: Language handicaps may be associated with other developmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome) or learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia, dyscalculia)
Additional Signs:
- Persistent difficulties that affect daily functioning: Language impairments that interfere with communication, learning, or social interactions
- Evidence of developmental delay or regression: Language skills that have declined or not progressed as expected
- Differences in language use: Speech and language skills may vary depending on the context or environment