How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 1)

Language skills are essential to a child's ability to succeed in school and life. But when processing language is a struggle there can be a global impact across a child's entire day. Language comprehension issues can be such as challenge for therapists, parents and teachers because they're difficult to spot. Often they look like a "behavior problem" when a child doesn't follow instructions, or when they appear to be off-task. On top of that, when kids repeated fail at a certain task and no one can figure out why, it's only natural for them to stop trying or willfully avoid it. That's why in this episode, I'm getting the word out about language processing and why it's so important to develop in school-age kids. Here's what I'll be discussing in this episode: ✅The difference between "speech therapy" and "language therapy". ✅Red flags of language processing issues and how to spot them. ✅One of the most common culprits behind processing issues (that's often overlooked). ✅The 4 types of sentences that are difficult for kids with language processing issues. In this episode, I also mention my Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure, that takes this information a step further. This guide walks through some of the common skills that cause language processing problems and how to work on them with kids. You can download your free copy on my website at: drkarenspeech.com/sentencestructure. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding. 
Language skills are essential to a child's ability to succeed in school and life. But when processing language is a struggle there can be a global impact across a child's entire day. Language comprehension issues can be such as challenge for therapists, parents and teachers because they're difficult to spot. Often they look like a "behavior problem" when a child doesn't follow instructions, or when they appear to be off-task. On top of that, when kids repeated fail at a certain task and no one can figure out why, it's only natural for them to stop trying or willfully avoid it.

That's why in this episode, I'm getting the word out about language processing and why it's so important to develop in school-age kids. Here's what I'll be discussing in this episode:
✅The difference between "speech therapy" and "language therapy".
Red flags of language processing issues and how to spot them.
✅One of the
most common culprits behind processing issues (that's often overlooked).
✅The
4 types of sentences that are difficult for kids with language processing issues. In this episode, I also mention my Ultimate Guide to Sentence Structure, that takes this information a step further.

This guide walks through some of the common skills that cause language processing problems and how to work on them with kids. You can download your free copy on my website at: drkarenspeech.com/sentencestructure. The De Facto Leaders podcast was formerly the “Are they 18 yet?®” podcast. As of November 2022, the name of the show has changed, and we’ve shifted from a focus on parenting to a focus on supporting clinicians and educators to design effective services for kids (but parents are still welcome to listen). Episodes published before November 24, 2022 will still contain some of our old branding. 

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How to support language processing and comprehension in school-age kids (part 1)