Blog: How Language Disorders Affect Your Child At School
1. What Is A Language Disorder?
If you’re reading this blog, you might already be aware of what exactly a language disorder is, but for those of you who might not be quite sure, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a language disorder is impaired comprehension and/or use of spoken, written and/or other symbol systems.
This can highly impact a student’s ability to read, write, speak, and understand others, especially in a classroom setting where they’ll be in a fast-paced environment with lots of distractions that could impact your child’s ability to stay with the rest of the class.
2. Language Disorders And Communication In The Classroom
Communication is one of the biggest ways a language disorder can impact a student in the classroom. With a language disorder, your child possibly has a hard time understanding their teacher, as well as their peers. This will directly impact their ability to keep up with the curriculum, and it could even impact your child’s ability to interact with peers.
Another way that your child might struggle in the classroom is being misunderstood. Children with language disorders might use words incorrectly, and they might struggle to articulate what they mean when trying to communicate with a teacher or peer.
The communication challenges are not just verbal, students with language disorders can struggle with written communication too. Children with language disorders are often at a higher risk of literacy challenges as well, including writing.
3. Keeping Up In The Classroom With A Language Disorder
With a language disorder, students likely struggle with keeping up in the classroom. Students with language disorders need more time to understand new material, and curriculum and often need more one-on-one assistance from a teacher to understand the subject the class is learning.
4. How You Can Help Your Child In The Classroom
Now that you’ve read this blog, you might be concerned about your child in a school setting. That feeling is totally normal, and it means you care about your child. But there are still many ways you can help your child if they’re dealing with a language disorder!
There are many small ways you can help your child at home that can make a big difference in the classroom. You should always encourage your child to ask questions; you should definitely read with them and help them sound out words while you point them out on a page. It is also a great idea to speak very clearly and sometimes slowly so your child will better understand what you’re saying.
You also might want to do some research about language disorders to learn more about the issue and how you can help your child succeed in school. You know your child best and are the best person to advocate for them. Try taking a look at this blog to learn more about how you can best advocate for your child’s needs at school.
Another way to help your child in the classroom is to talk to your child’s teachers. A simple phone call, meeting, or even an email letting your teacher know about your child’s language disorder is necessary for helping your teacher better understand your child’s needs and why they might be struggling in the classroom.
Tutoring is a great way to help your child succeed with their language disorder if you have the means. Luckily, there are plenty of tutoring centers online or in person that you can contact to learn about their services and how they can help your child. There might even be a tutor at your school who would be able to help your child, so it never hurts to call and find out.
About Ignite Achievement Academy
Ignite Achievement Academy (formerly named “Manus Academy”) specializes in working with students with learning barriers in grades K-12. Here at Ignite, we IGNITE student learning, IGNITE their passions and interests, and IGNITE their future.
We Help Students Of All Kinds, Including:
- Learning disabilities
- Language disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression
Through compassionate, structured teaching practices and support for the whole child, students receive the skills and support needed to thrive. Most students who enroll at IAA have had a long struggle and are relieved when they join us and make friends with other students. Parents often report to us that their child feels successful each day and has a growing sense of well-being. This leads to a full-family benefit.
At IAA, we equip students with training to build essential academic skills to successfully complete coursework, solve problems, and meet the academic and social demands of their school environment. Contact us today to learn more about Ignite Achievement Academy, request information, or schedule a tour of our campus!