Expressive & Receptive Language Disorders

Language is how we connect, learn, and share who we are. When a child struggles to understand or express language, it can affect every part of their world—from schoolwork to friendships to confidence.

A father and son lying on the floor face to face, smiling at each other in a brightly decorated living room.

A language disorder can impact how a child understands and uses language.

  • Receptive language refers to understanding what others say—directions, questions, stories, and conversations.

  • Expressive language refers to using words, sentences, and grammar to share thoughts, needs, and ideas.

Some children experience challenges in one area, while others have difficulty in both. These challenges can appear as frustration, limited communication, or struggles with learning and social interaction.

A man and a young boy sitting side by side on a dock by the water, facing away from the camera, with boats docked in the background during sunset.

At The Therapy Collaborative, our speech-language pathologists help children build language skills that lead to confidence, independence, and connection. Therapy is designed to feel like play—engaging, motivating, and meaningful to your child’s daily life.

We support children who:

  • Have a limited vocabulary or short sentences for their age

  • Struggle to follow directions or answer questions

  • Repeat words or phrases without understanding (echolalia)

  • Have difficulty telling stories or describing events

  • Seem to “tune out” or get frustrated when spoken to

  • Understand language better than they can express it (or vice versa)

Therapy focuses on:

  • Expanding vocabulary and sentence length

  • Strengthening comprehension of questions, directions, and stories

  • Teaching grammar and sentence organization

  • Improving conversational and storytelling skills

  • Increasing confidence and participation in daily communication

Our approach blends evidence-based methods with your child’s natural curiosity and interests—making therapy something they look forward to each week.

Parents and caregivers are essential partners in therapy. We’ll share strategies and activities you can use at home and school to help your child generalize new language skills to real-life situations.

Let’s help your child build the confidence to express themselves and connect with the world around them.

Book a Speech Evaluation