Language Disabilities/Problems in Small Children

Introduction

Language disorders/problems have been commonly found among the young children who deal with their difficulties in their learning and communication at some time in their lives. With help and support, many children recover in their initial years age, however many are found to live with these problems for longer period of time (Sharma, Purdy & Kelly, 2009). There are various researchers who put great light on communication among children and their consequences including speech disorders and language disorders. One such empirical study by Ferguson, Hall, Riley & Moore (2011) discusses the language disorders with related to “Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)” and “Specific Language Impairment (SLI)”. The article discusses the learning and communication problems that children of 6-13 years are dealing and also addresses some guidelines which are helpful in treatment and medical care for to the parents for their children.

Section 1 - Critical review

Ferguson, M. A., Hall, R., L., Riley, A. and Moore, D., R. (2011) Communication, listening, cognitive and speech perception skills in children with auditory processing disorder (APD) or specific language impairment (SLI). Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research vol.54 pp. 211-227.

Structure

The language disorders/problems have been widely discussed in the literature of medical science. The language disorders are highly significant with child learning abilities with relation to his speech, writing and gestures. If the child is having any disability in his learning, it can be observed that he might have some language disorder. However, critics stated that it is mostly invisible, as it is also found that some children who are good in their speech and produce goods sounds may still have some language disorders. There are various language disorders which have profound impact in children learning, communication and speech. Ferguson, Hall, Riley & Moore (2011) examined the relationship of Auditory Processing Disorder and SLI by differentiating their effect on children.

The study of Ferguson, Hall, Riley & Moore (2011) is based on finding measures that could help to distinguish between children having language disorders with APD and SLI. The Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is language disorder among children who finds difficulty in interpreting sounds surrounding them, whereas Specific Language Impairment (SLI) indicates the language disorder in which children have difficulties learning specific language. This research in conducted to understand and identify the children with APD and SLI with relation to their learning, communication and speech and provisions of each language disorder accordingly. The researchers dividend the children in three different groups which include the APD population of 19 children and SLI population of 22 children and MS population of 47 students. Those children were selected were selected in APD and SLI group that were clinically diagnosed with language disorders while the third group is comprised of children in Mainstream school which is an unselected control group of children selected by authors to differentiate the children with language disabilities and those who don't. The children in three different groups have been tested with different diagnostics tests to find out measures of intelligence quotient, ...