Why doesn’t my child always understand what people say?

Some children appear to hear what is being said but do not fully understand the words, questions or instructions. This can sometimes look like not listening, being distracted, ignoring adults or choosing not to follow directions.

In reality, your child may be working very hard to process language.

What this can look like

Your child may:

 

• • need instructions repeated several times

• • seem to “not listen” or appear distracted

• • misunderstand questions

• • struggle with longer sentences or explanations

• • rely on gestures, routines or watching others to know what to do

• • find it hard to follow conversations, especially in busy settings

What may be going on

These difficulties may be linked to receptive language needs, auditory memory difficulties, language processing difficulties or Developmental Language Disorder.

Some children understand simple instructions but struggle when language becomes longer, more abstract or less familiar.

How assessment helps

A speech and language assessment looks at how your child understands words, sentences, questions, instructions and spoken information.

It also considers how your child manages language in everyday settings, such as home, school and social situations.

How I can help

I provide online assessment and therapy to help children understand language more successfully. Support may include building vocabulary, improving understanding of instructions, developing question comprehension and giving adults strategies to make language easier to access.

This can also help reduce frustration, confusion and misunderstandings.

Not sure if this sounds like your child?

That’s okay. You do not need to know the reason before asking for help.

Book a free 15-minute consultation and we can talk through your concerns together.