Many parents have experienced a situation where they ask their child what seems like a simple question and get no answer at all. You might ask, “What did you eat for lunch?” or “Where did you put your shoes?” and your child simply shrugs, says “I don’t know,” or gives an answer that doesn’t seem to fit the question.
This can be frustrating for parents, especially when it seems like their child knows the answer. In many cases, the challenge is not that the child is refusing to respond. Instead, they may be struggling with language skills that affect their ability to understand questions or express their thoughts clearly.
Understanding Receptive and Expressive Language
Language is a broad subject that can be broken down into two distinct skillsets:
- Receptive language skills are the ability to understand what you read or the things people say to you. This includes understanding vocabulary, following directions, and processing questions.
- Expressive language skills are the ability to communicate your thoughts and ideas in a way others can easily understand. This includes using words, sentences, and grammar to share information with others.
Both skillsets are important for successful communication, and difficulties in either area can make answering questions challenging.
When Understanding the Question Is Difficult
Sometimes a child appears unable to answer a question because they do not fully understand what is being asked. And when understanding language is difficult, answering questions can feel overwhelming.
For example, a child may understand the words “dog” and “park,” but still have difficulty answering a question like, “Why did the dog run to the park?” because they are struggling to process the information and determine what kind of answer is expected.
Children with receptive language challenges may also have difficulty following multi-step directions, understanding new vocabulary, or answering questions that contain a lot of information.
When Finding the Words Is the Challenge
Other children understand the question but struggle to express their answer. In these situations, the challenge may be expressive language rather than understanding.
You may notice that your child seems to know what they want to say but has trouble finding the right words. They may pause for a long time, give very short answers, or become frustrated when trying to explain something.
For example, if you ask your child what they did at school, they may respond with “stuff” or “I don’t know,” even though they can remember the activities they completed.
Why “WH” Questions Can Be Difficult
Many children who struggle with language have difficulty answering “WH” questions such as:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
- How?
Each of these questions requires a different type of response. Children need to understand what information is being requested and then organize their thoughts into an answer.
Some children can answer “What” questions easily but struggle with “Why” or “How” questions, which often require more complex language and reasoning skills.
When Should Parents Be Concerned?
Every child develops language skills at their own pace. However, it may be worth seeking an evaluation if your child frequently struggles to answer questions, becomes frustrated during conversations, has difficulty following directions, or seems to understand less language than their peers.
You may also notice challenges at school, during social interactions, or when your child is asked to explain their thoughts and experiences.
An evaluation can help identify whether your child is experiencing receptive language challenges, expressive language challenges, or a combination of both.
How Speech Therapy Can Help
Speech therapy can help children build the language skills needed to understand questions, organize their thoughts, and communicate more effectively.
At JLD Therapy, we evaluate each child’s unique strengths and challenges to determine what may be contributing to communication difficulties. We then create an individualized plan that helps children improve both their understanding of language and their ability to express themselves confidently.
If your child struggles to answer questions and you’re wondering whether their language development is on track, our team is here to help. A speech and language evaluation can provide answers, identify any areas of concern, and help your child build the skills needed for successful communication.
