language therapy
Helping Your Child Understand, Express, and Connect
Language is how we understand and express our thoughts, needs, and ideas. Some children may struggle with understanding what others say, expressing themselves clearly, or using language appropriately in social situations.
What Makes MCP Different?
🌟 Play-Based & Engaging! Kids learn best through hands-on, interactive activities that make language development fun.
🌟 No One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Therapy is tailored to your child’s unique strengths, challenges, and communication style.
🌟 Building Confidence & Connection: I create a warm, supportive environment that encourages kids to express themselves freely and confidently.
At MCP, I specialize in child-centered, relationship-driven language therapy that helps children understand, express, and connect with the world around them. Whether working on understanding spoken language, building vocabulary, or forming sentences, therapy is designed to boost communication skills while reducing frustration.
JUMP TO SECTION:
Receptive & Expressive Language
What is IT?
Language development includes two key skills:
🔹Receptive Language (Understanding) – The ability to understand spoken language, follow directions, and process information.
🔹Expressive Language (Speaking) – The ability to use words and sentences to communicate thoughts, needs, and ideas effectively.
| Age | Receptive Language (Understanding) | Expressive Language (Speaking) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | Responds to name, follows simple commands with gestures | Uses single words (e.g., "mama," "ball") |
| 18 months | Follows simple one-step directions ("Give me the ball") | Uses at least 10-20 words and some 2-word phrases ("More milk") |
| 2 years | Understands basic questions ("Where's your toy?") | Combines two words ("Want cookie," "Go outside") |
| 2.5 years | Follows basic & related two-step directions ("Get your shoes and put them on") | Expands sentences to 3+ words ("Big red car!") |
| 3 years | Follows more complex 2-step directions | Uses 3-4 word sentences, asks "why" questions |
| 4 years | Understands basic concepts (big/little, up/down, same/different) | Tells short stories, asks and answers questions |
| 5 years | Follows multi-step instructions with minimal support | Uses full sentences with correct grammar, tells detailed stories |
Signs Your Child May Need Support
🔹Receptive Language Challenges (Understanding):
🚩 Trouble following directions, especially multi-step ones
🚩 Frequently says “What?” or “Huh?” even when paying attention
🚩 Struggles to answer questions appropriately
🚩 Difficulty remembering or processing spoken information
🔹Expressive Language Challenges (Speaking):
🚩 Uses fewer words than expected for their age
🚩 Has difficulty forming complete sentences or using correct grammar
🚩 Struggles to tell stories, describe events, or explain ideas
🚩 Gets frustrated when trying to express thoughts
Why Early Intervention Matters:
✔ Builds strong communication skills for school, friendships, and daily life
✔ Helps children express needs and emotions confidently
✔ Improves learning and social participation
If your child struggles with understanding or expressing language, early intervention can help! Reach out for an evaluation today.
Gestalt Language Processing (GLP)
What is IT?
Gestalt language processing is a way some children develop language by learning phrases or chunks of speech first, rather than individual words. These children often:
🔹Repeat whole phrases or sentences they’ve heard before (echolalia)
🔹Use scripts from TV shows, songs, or daily conversations to communicate
🔹Gradually break down these learned phrases into smaller, flexible sentences
Who Are Gestalt Language Processors?
Gestalt language processing is common among young children, but research suggests that up to 80-90% of autistic children develop language this way. Many autistic children naturally acquire and use language in scripts or phrases before breaking them down into smaller, flexible units. These scripts often come from favorite TV shows, books, songs, or everyday interactions and may carry emotional significance rather than a literal meaning.
Understanding how autistic children process language is crucial for providing the right support. Traditional language therapy focused on single-word learning may not be effective for gestalt language processors. Instead, therapy should embrace their natural way of learning and help them move through the stages of language development at their own pace.
| Stage | Language Development Process |
|---|---|
| 1 | Uses full scripts or memorized phrases (e.g., "It’s time for bed!" to mean "I’m tired.") |
| 2 | Modifies learned phrases slightly (e.g., "Want cookie?" → "Want ball?") |
| 3 | Extracts single words from phrases and uses them flexibly |
| 4 | Begins forming original, simple sentences |
| 5 | Uses full, grammatically correct sentences |
| 6 | Communicates independently with self-generated speech |
Signs Your Child May Need Support
🚩 Repeats long phrases instead of using single words (e.g., "Do you want some juice?" instead of just "juice")
🚩 Uses scripted language that doesn’t always fit the situation
🚩 Echoes dialogue from TV shows, books, or songs instead of answering questions
🚩 Struggles to create new, flexible sentences
Why Early Intervention Matters
✔ Helps children transition from echolalia to independent speech
✔ Supports meaningful, flexible communication
✔ Allows children to express their thoughts in their own words
If your child uses a lot of scripted or echoed speech, therapy can help guide them toward independent language!
Pragmatics/
Social Communication
What Is IT?
Pragmatic language (social communication) is how we use language in conversations—not just what we say, but how, when, and why we say it. Some children may struggle with:
🔹 Starting and maintaining conversations
🔹 Understanding nonverbal cues (body language, tone of voice)
🔹 Using language appropriately in different social settings
| Age | Social Communication Skills |
|---|---|
| 2-3 years | Engages in simple back-and-forth conversations |
| 4 years | Adjusts speech based on listener (e.g., simpler speech for younger children) |
| 5-6 years | Understands turn-taking in conversation, starts to recognize social cues |
| 7-8 years | Uses humor, understands figurative language |
| 9+ years | Navigates complex conversations, social problem-solving |
Signs Your Child May Need Support
🚩 Struggles with back-and-forth conversation (e.g., talks too much or too little)
🚩 Has difficulty understanding jokes, sarcasm, or figurative language
🚩 Misinterprets facial expressions, gestures, or body language
🚩 Talks mostly about their own interests without engaging with others
Why Early Intervention Matters
✔ Helps children form friendships and interact confidently
✔ Supports success in school, playgroups, and family settings
✔ Teaches children to navigate social situations and conversations
If your child has trouble with social communication, therapy can help them connect with others more easily!