Receptive vs Expressive Language Delays:
A Complete Guide for Parents
Helping you understand the differences, identify early signs, and know when to seek support for your child’s communication development.
Rogers Bridge » Speech Therapy » Receptive vs Expressive Language Delays
Why isn't my child communicating with me?
One of the main reasons families seek speech therapy is because their child is unable to communicate.
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Lack of communication causes frustration for the parents and for the child. Parents want to hear their child say their first words like "mama" or "dada", to tell them when they are hurt, or talk about an exciting event that happened to them.
Without the ability to communicate, children struggle to express their needs and ideas. This struggle results in increased frustration in the form of tantrums, lack of interest, or using physical means to communicate.
We're passionate about
your child's needs.
"At 6, 12, and 18 months, I honestly wasn't sure if she would ever talk. Hearing her express her ideas, have conversations, and sing (!) now at 3.5 regularly brings tears to my eyes." — Gina D. (full review lower)
What Are Receptive and Expressive Language Skills?
Language development includes two essential skills that children build over time:
Receptive Language (Understanding)
Receptive language refers to how your child receives and understands language. This includes:​
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Following directions
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Recognizing familiar words
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Identifying objects, people, or actions
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Understanding questions
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Responding appropriately during routines
A child’s receptive skills develop first: they must understand words before they can use them.​​​
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Expressive Language (Communicating)
​Expressive language refers to how your child uses language to communicate. This can include:​
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Using gestures
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Making sounds or using single words
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Combining words into phrases and sentences
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Asking questions
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Naming or describing things
Children rely on expressive skills to share their needs, ideas, and feelings.
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Receptive vs. Expressive Language: Key Differences
Below is a simple side-by-side comparison to help you notice what may be happening with your child:
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Receptive Language:
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Understanding what words mean
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Following directions
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Recognizing familiar people and objects
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Responding to questions appropriately
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Understanding stories or routines
Expressive Language:
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Using words verbally or nonverbally
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Labeling or naming objects
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Forming sentences
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Asking questions
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Telling stories or describing events
If your child understands more than they say, this can be normal. However, when the gap becomes wide, it may indicate a delay.
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Early Signs of Receptive and Expressive Language Delays
Every child develops at their own pace, but consistent difficulty in these areas may be early red flags.
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Signs of Receptive Language Delay
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Trouble following simple directions (e.g., “Get your shoes.”)
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Limited response to name
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Difficulty pointing to objects or pictures when asked
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Appearing confused in routines or group activities
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Trouble understanding questions like what, who, or where
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Signs of Expressive Language Delay
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Limited vocabulary for age
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Difficulty combining words (e.g., “more milk”)
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Trouble forming complete sentences
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Frequent frustration when communicating
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Difficulty naming everyday items
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Trouble asking or answering questions
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Red Flags by Age
Here are some helpful milestones to guide your observations:
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12 Months
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Few or no gestures (waving, pointing)
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Limited response to simple requests
18 Months
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Less than 10 total words
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Difficulty following familiar routines
24 Months
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Fewer than 50 words
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Not combining 2 words (e.g., “Daddy go”)
36 Months
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Speech hard to understand by family
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Trouble following multi-step directions
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Difficulty expressing needs using sentences
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If your child misses several markers, early intervention can make a significant difference.
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What Causes Language Delays?
Language delays can occur for several reasons, including:​
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Hearing concerns or frequent ear infections
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Developmental differences
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Autism spectrum disorder
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Neurological or genetic factors
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Environmental factors (stress, limited language exposure)
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Motor speech difficulties
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A comprehensive speech-language evaluation helps identify the root cause.
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When Language Delays Affect Daily Life
Language delays show up in everyday moments... not just during structured activities.
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You may notice challenges during:​
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Morning and bedtime routines
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Mealtime communication
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Social play with peers or siblings
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Classroom tasks or group activities
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Transitions between activities
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When a child struggles to understand or express themselves, daily tasks can become overwhelming. Early support helps restore confidence and independence.
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What Are Receptive and Expressive Language Skills?
Play is a powerful window into your child’s communication skills. During play, therapists observe:​
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How your child responds to prompts
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Whether they understand pretend scenarios
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How they initiate or respond to communication
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Their ability to follow play-based routines
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Play reveals authentic communication strengths that may not be visible during structured testing.
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Why Calm Environments Matter
Some children communicate more effectively in calm, predictable environments.
When overwhelmed, a child may appear inattentive or resistant, but in reality, their sensory system may be overloaded.
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Quiet, sensory-friendly settings support:
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Improved attention
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Better understanding of directions
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More successful attempts at expressive communication
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Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder
Some children experience challenges in both understanding and expressing language. This can look like:
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Difficulty processing verbal information
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Limited verbal output or incomplete sentences
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Challenges with back-and-forth conversation
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This is common and highly treatable with targeted therapy.
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When Should You Seek Help?
Seek a speech-language evaluation if your child:
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Falls behind developmental milestones
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Appears frustrated when communicating
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Has difficulty following routines or instructions
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Uses gestures instead of words after age 2
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Has been advised to “wait and see” but continues to struggle
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Early support gives children the best chance to thrive.
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What to Expect in a Speech-Language Evaluation
At Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy, evaluations are:
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Play-based and child-led
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Designed to assess daily functional communication
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Conducted by certified speech-language pathologists
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Tailored to each child’s strengths and needs
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You’ll also receive:
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A clear explanation of findings
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Personalized therapy recommendations
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Strategies you can use at home right away
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How Speech Therapy Helps
Speech therapy strengthens both receptive and expressive language through:
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Language modeling during play
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Visual supports and gestures
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Repetition and structured routines
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Vocabulary-building activities
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Parent coaching and home strategies
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Strengthening comprehension and sentence formation
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Our goal is to help your child communicate clearly, confidently, and independently.
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(More details below after the following section...)
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At Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy,
we believe that all children
can learn to communicate effectively.
We will work with your child and family to determine
warm and effective strategies which,
incorporated into your daily life, will serve to improve receptive and expressive language skills.
Our Team's Expertise:
Certified Speech & Occupational Therapists
At Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy, your child is supported by a team of highly trained, compassionate professionals.
Our Lawrenceville, GA team and therapists hold advanced degrees and certifications, including:
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CCC-SLP – Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology
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OTR/L – Licensed Occupational Therapist, Registered
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M.Ed – Master of Education
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CPAM – Certified Pediatric Adaptive Movement
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MS – Master of Science
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OTD, OTR/L – Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Licensed
We believe that blending professional expertise with compassionate care leads to the best outcomes for your child’s communication and developmental needs.
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"Jessie is such a loving and caring therapist. Her passion for helping her patients and families show every visit. She is open to what works for each patient while being effective and productive. She is responsive and able to adapt to her patient's moods. Speech therapy has never been my son's favorite, and he has been to known to be a bit difficult, but it never slowed Jessie down. She was always so loving and made the sessions fun for him. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a great therapist." – Belinda
Receptive Language vs Expressive Language
Receptive or expressive language delays can look different from child to child and often vary in severity. Some children may only struggle in certain situations — like following directions during busy routines — while others may have difficulty expressing their needs throughout the day. These challenges can occur at any age and may impact play, learning, social interactions, and overall confidence.
Below are common signs of receptive and expressive language delays in both toddlers and school-age children.
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Toddlers:
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Not responding to name
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Limited or no eye contact
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Unable to interact with another person during play
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Unable to follow directions
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Minimal babbling or vocalizations
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Not producing words by 12 months old
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Not using 2-word combinations by 18 months
Children:
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Unable to follow multistep directions
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Unable to answer questions or answers questions incorrectly
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Unable to remember things
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Not interested in communicating with others
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Limited or below average vocabulary
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Using incorrect word order in sentences
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Incorrect word tenses
FAQs
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What’s the difference between receptive and expressive language?
Receptive language is understanding words and instructions. Expressive language is how your child uses words, gestures, or sentences.
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Can a child have both types of delays?
Yes. This is called a mixed receptive-expressive delay.
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Should I wait to see if my child grows out of it?
Most children with ongoing delays need support. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.
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Does being bilingual cause language delays?
No. Bilingual children may mix languages, but true delays occur in both languages.
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When should I get an evaluation?
Anytime you notice consistent difficulty with understanding or communication.
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"Jessie was my sons therapist for well over two years and she is incredible! You can’t go wrong choosing her as your SLP or her other therapist because she hires SLPs with an extraordinary amount of talent and professionalism. My daughter was also lucky enough to have worked with Melissa and she was wonderful. She was engaging, intelligent, funny, easy to work with, and extremely professional. I highly recommend Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy." – Holly W
Related Resources:
Our team provides Speech Therapy in Lawrenceville, GA to support children with Receptive vs Expressive Language Delays and other developmental needs.
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This page has been reviewed by licensed speech-language pathologists at Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy.
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Gina D's Full Review
"My 8 month-old daughter was struggling to feed (bottle/solids) and was only forming vowel sounds (aah), no consonants (i.e. mama). Jessie began working with her immediately on muscle tone and coordination. Her bottle feeding, eating, and speech have improved so significantly over the past three years, it is nothing short of miraculous. Our daughter eats independently now and is saying full sentences. At 6, 12, and 18 months, I honestly wasn't sure if she would ever talk. Hearing her express her ideas, have conversations, and sing (!) now at 3.5 regularly brings tears to my eyes. Jessie is an amazing speech therapist. She brings the ideal balance of patience, strategy, intentionality, and play to every session with our daughter and we could not be more delighted with her approach. Through our diagnosis journey in discovering our daughter's super rare genetic disorder, she has been a supportive, consistent advocate for our daughter's progress. She is a trusted member of our daughter's special needs team, and we are beyond grateful for her role in our daughter's life!" – Gina D.