Understanding Communication Disorders: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Support Your Child
November 23, 2025
What Are Communication Disorders?
Communication disorders are conditions that cause difficulties in understanding, producing, or using language and communication effectively. Communication disorders can make it harder for a person to understand others or express themselves clearly.
Are Certain People More At Risk of Communication Disorders?
For most communication disorders, the exact cause isn’t always known or obvious. However, some people are more likely to develop a communication disorder, including:
- Neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism
- Acquired or traumatic brain injury
- Genetic or learning disabilities such as Down Syndrome
- Prenatal factors such as fetal alcohol syndrome or exposure to drugs during pregnancy
- Premature birth
- Family history of communication disorders
Whilst these factors can increase the likelihood of someone developing a communication disorder, every individual is different. Early identification and support can make a significant difference in how a child learns to communicate and connect with others.
Expressive Language Disorder
Expressive language disorder is a condition that affects how people formulate thoughts and sentences. A child with expressive language disorder may understand language well but find it difficult to express themselves clearly.
Signs that your child may have expressive language disorder include:
- Pause a lot before expressing a thought, like they are struggling to formulate their sentence or express their thought
- Often using filler words, such as “um” or “like” whilst searching for words to express a thought
- Inaccurate use of tenses and vocabulary
- Difficulty expressing a sequence of thoughts, such as when reciting a story
How to support a child with expressive language disorder
Be patient when your child is finding a way to express their thoughts
Being unable to express how you feel can already lead to feelings of frustration. Experiencing a lack of patience when trying to express how they feel can increase frustration and anxiety, which can actually make the ability to formulate ideas and sentences harder. This may also impact mental health, such as low self-esteem and anxiety. In order to support your child, be patient when they are talking and offer them support rather than criticism.
Use objects and visuals to support their communication
When words are difficult, it’s important to find other ways to support communication; these are known as augmentative and alternative communication systems. Using alternative forms of communication such as sign language, pictorial symbols, communication boards, and technology can provide children with expressive language disorder with the support to communicate.
Model words and sentences to your child
A key method of how children learn is by observing how other people act and imitating these actions; this is the same with communication. By modelling sentences to your child with clear grammar, tense, and vocabulary, you will be providing them with examples of how to form sentences. For example, if your child says “Dog run”, you might respond with “Yes, the dog is running”.
Receptive Language Disorder
Receptive language disorder is a condition that affects how individuals understand language, both verbal and written. A child with a receptive language disorder may have difficulty processing what others are saying to them.
Signs that your child may have a receptive language disorder include:
- Difficulty following directions, both written and verbal
- May appear as though they aren’t listening
- Looking for cues as to what they need to do, rather than being able to do it from listening to the instructions
How to support a child with a receptive language disorder
Limit background noise when talking
By reducing background noise and distractions when talking, you are creating a calmer environment for your child to hear what you are saying. Many people can find it difficult to concentrate on what is being said when in a busy environment, and this is even harder for those who have a receptive language disorder. Try to minimise distractions when speaking to your child to make it easier for them to process and understand your words.
Speak and write clearly
Those with receptive language disorder can struggle to understand what is being said to them. When these sentences include filler words or unnecessary information, it increases how much information the brain has to process, which can make processing and understanding harder. When giving instructions or explaining something, use direct language and avoid unnecessary filler words.
Use alternative forms of communication
It is important to provide resources to support your child's communication. Using symbols to present instructions, routines, and other information can make it easier for your child to understand.
Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder
Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder affects an individual’s ability to understand language (receptive language) and to use language (expressive language). A child with mixed receptive-expressive language disorder may have difficulty following instructions and struggle to express themselves.
Signs that your child may have mixed receptive-expressive language disorder include:
- Signs from both receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder
- Challenges in understanding and producing language in conversation
- Struggles following two-way conversations or following multi-step instructions
Speech Sound Disorder
Speech sound disorder affects the individual’s ability to produce speech sounds when speaking, meaning the words are not pronounced clearly. For example, the word “dog” has three speech sounds: ‘d’ ‘o’ ‘g’; if an individual struggles with any of these speech sounds, then they will be unable to pronounce the word “dog” correctly.
Signs that your child may have a speech sound disorder include:
- Struggle to express what they want
- Difficulties staying calm when not being understood
- Difficulty learning to read and write
How to support a child with speech sound disorder
Be patient when your child is talking
Similar to the other communication disorders listed in this article, symptoms can become heightened when your child is feeling frustrated or under pressure. It is important to be patient when they are trying to form words to express how they are feeling, and remind yourself that they are trying really hard to communicate with you.
Practice speech sounds with your child
Support your child in learning speech sounds and model these sounds to provide examples. Ways you can support this development is by playing games.
Make learning fun
It can be easy to fall into the cycle of always trying to teach your child how to form speech sounds and words. However, this can lead to frustration for you and your child, and take away from the time you could be spending together. Learning and practising are important, but it is also important to have fun, spend time with family, and feel supported. In order to do this, play games with your child, such as puppet shows and include your child in your everyday routine; they will learn and practice simply by being involved.
Child-Onset Fluency Disorder
Child-onset fluency disorder, also known as stuttering, is a disorder in which the individual has difficulties with speech flow. This can include repeating words and sentences, and long pauses.
Signs that your child may have child-onset fluency disorder include:
- Repetitions of speech sounds when attempting to say a word
- Repeating the beginning of sentences before formulating the whole sentence
- Pausing for periods of time when talking
How to support a child with child-onset fluency disorder
Be patient when your child is talking
When a child with child-onset fluency disorder is talking and stuttering over their words or pausing, you may believe that it is helpful to finish their sentence for them. However, this is more likely to make your child feel frustrated and nervous about talking again.
As an example, think about when you are talking to someone and you pause for a second or trip over your words. If someone interrupts you or just assumes they know what you’re trying to say, so they say it for you, you can feel frustrated. This is the same for a child with child-onset fluency disorder who is treated with impatience and constantly interrupted. Be patient when your child is talking, don’t assume you know what they’re thinking, and support them in using their voice and expressing their ideas.
Support turn-taking and active listening
Foster an environment where your family takes turns talking and actively listening to one another rather than interrupting. This provides a safe and supportive environment for your child to communicate.
Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
Social communication disorder is a condition in which the individual experiences difficulties with both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication in social situations.
Signs that your child may have social communication disorder include:
- Difficulties following conversation rules (eg, turn-taking, responding to a question)
- Challenges understanding ambiguous or vague language
- Challenges with sentence structure
- Frequent misunderstandings
How to support a child with social communication disorder
Model verbal and non-verbal communication
Modelling communication, such as taking turns in a conversation, provides examples to your child of verbal and non-verbal communication. This supports learning and understanding.
Make learning fun
Playing games that support the development of social communication can support your child. Examples include role-playing games and reading stories.
Other Conditions That May Cause Communication Difficulties
Not all communication difficulties are caused by a primary communication disorder; some may be a sign of another disorder. Other disorders that may cause communication difficulties include:
Cerebral Palsy
Those with cerebral palsy experience challenges to their movement and coordination. Someone with cerebral palsy may have weak or uncontrolled movements, tremors, and muscle weakness or stiffness. They may experience communication difficulties if they have muscle weakness or stiffness that affects the muscles that support speech production.
Some communication difficulties that those with cerebral palsy may experience include:
- Challenges in being understood clearly
- Difficulties using and understanding verbal and non-verbal forms of communication
- Social communication difficulties
Cleft palate
A cleft palate is where there is a gap or split in the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth. This condition can cause difficulties in producing language and certain speech sounds due to not being able to fully close the mouth. Early speech therapy and support can help children develop clearer speech.
Autism
Autism is another condition that can be associated with communication difficulties. Some communication difficulties that those with autism may experience include:
- Using repetitive language
- Non-linear language development
- Challenges with nonverbal communication, such as gestures or tone of voice
Communication difficulties come in many forms, and it is important to notice the signs quickly in order to provide early support.