Diagnostic Parameter, Expressive Language Disorder

Expressive Language Disorder

The scores obtained from standardized individually administered measures of expressive language development are substantially below those obtained from standardized measures of both nonverbal intellectual capacity and receptive language development. The disturbance may be manifest clinically by symptoms that include having a markedly limited vocabulary, making errors in tense, or having difficulty recalling words or producing sentences with developmentally appropriate length or complexity. The disorders main features are:

Using standardized measures, the patient's scores of expressive language development are materially lower than those of both nonverbal intellectual capacity and receptive language development. Clinically, the patient may have severely limited vocabulary, make errors of tense, recall words poorly or produce sentences that are shorter or less complex than is developmentally appropriate.

This disorder interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication.

It does not fulfill criteria for a Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

If the patient also has Mental Retardation, environmental deprivation or a speech-motor or sensory deficit, the problems with language are worse than you would expect with these problems.