Semantic Disorder

2.1. Definition

Images 1.1. illustration of children with semantic disorder

The semantic disorder is a significant impairment in language acquisition due to

deficits in the comprehension process across the semantic language domain. This case is
found mostly on children Children with this disorder have difficulties understanding the
meaning of an utterance, and they also face difficulties in processing information. Children
with this disorder are generally having problems extracting the central meaning or the
saliency of an event or conversation since they tend to focus on the detail instead (Sharp
2002). It can be inferred that children with this case tend to experience delays in their
language development since they could not comprehend others' utterances. This condition
can also be found in another disorder, for instance, in patients who suffer from Wernicke's
Aphasia. A Wernicke’s Aphasia patient can speak fluently yet produce meaningless speech
and face difficulties in comprehending spoken and written input.
2.2. Causes
Until this day, the cause of this disorder remains vague. Many speculations are rising
among experts regarding the cause of this disorder. One theory speculates that
Neurodevelopmental (brain) disorder is the cause of Semantic Disorder. Another theory is
semantic disorder, which may occur as the effect of a “glitch” in the right hemisphere, which
makes children undergo some difficulties in processing verbal and visual information
simultaneously. Another theory rising is that this disorder is related to weak executive
functioning skills.

Images 1.2. illustration of right hemisphere

The experts keep examining the pattern and exploring other probabilities to concluded
the cause of this disorder. In examining this issue, they also proposed that genetic factors may
have a prominent role, and children who have a family history of Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Communication Disorder, or Specific Learning Disorders have a more significant risk and
more likely have a Semantic Disorder diagnosis.

In one of the article published in 2002 which is created for parents and teachers
involved in the care of children with semantic difficulties, Margo Sharp argued that the cause
of this disorder might be rooted in the problem found in the listening and processing
meaning. Children with this disorder were believe to acquire comprehension problems, and
they face some difficulties to follow instructions which were not part of their regular routine.
2.3. Description of the language development/condition

As explained previously, this condition mostly occurs in children. Therefore, parents

need to pay attention to their children’s language development so that this disorder can be
traced as early as possible. The general language condition in children who suffer from this
condition is that they experience delays in language development and have some
comprehension problems. Children around 0-4 years old with the semantic disorder will show
some signs, such as they are late talkers, cannot express what they want clearly, and they
memorize phrases that they frequently heard and then they speak those phrases out of
context.

After they are 4 years old, children with this disorder also show some signs, such as;
they keep repeating particular phrases or sentences; they have some difficulties in term of
following rules given and doing turn-taking within a conversation; they tend to speak using a
grown-up tone and they did not performs baby talk; they have some difficulties in
comprehending idioms and figurative languages; they have problem in processing abstract
concepts like time or motivation (e.g. next week, don’t give up); and finally they also either
read passage in their early age or latter but without any comprehension.

In addition, the general language condition found in the sufferer of this disorder is that
they deal with many difficulties, such as understanding questions, understanding choices,
following conversations or stories, extracting the idea from a conversation or story,
understanding satire, understanding jokes and contextual cues, reading comprehension, and
distinguishing offensive remarks.

In an example of a dialog below, we will see how people with semantic disorder
response to a question:

Interviewer : “Hello, what is your name?”

Patient : “I talk with Jeff sometimes and other people are working with
them.”

Interviewee : “How are you today?”

Patient : “I’m fast. Are you hungry? You look great.

From the excerpt of the dialog above, it is obvious that a person with the semantic
disorder has difficulties in understanding a question given, so they also response to the
question with meaningless utterance. In both questions, the patient was asked about his name
and his feelings, but the patient failed to understand the questions, so the patient answer the
question given using out-of-context speech that does not answer the question.

2.3. Description of The Short Video

An example of middle school children diagnosed with the semantic disorder can be
seen here: https://youtu.be/oVLJmFbtR4g. In this video, it is explained that Wandsworth is a
place for speech and language therapy in the United Kingdom aimed to help children between
11-15 years old. The first young girl in this video stated that she is quite and does not talk
much because she cannot understand the questions given. Another child also stated that the
therapist helps her to be able to understand a lesson. Another child also stated that they learn
about consequences and key facts that help her to deal with her disorder.

The therapist claimed that the therapy helps the children to improve their behavior, to
express themselves, build their confidence, to understand a simple vocabular, and
communicate with others. A child also stated that it is important to get help from
professionals as soon as possible because the sooner someone gets help, the more effective
the therapy is.
References

Remmes, Cara. n.d. Manhattan Psychology Group. Accessed May 29, 2020.
https://manhattanpsychologygroup.com/what-is-social-pragmatic-communication-
disorder/.

2014. Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder: Definition, Symptomps, and How to Help?

Sharp, Margo. 2002. "Semantic Pragmatic Disorder."

Spivey, Becky L. 2012. Super Duper Inc. Accessed May 29, 2020.
https://www.superduperinc.com/handouts/pdf/363%20understanding%20semantic.pdf.

The Understood Team. 2014. Understood. Accessed May 29, 2017.

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-
disabilities/communication-disorders/understanding-social-communication-
disorder#How_common_is_social_communication_disorder.

Traxler, Matthew J. 2012. Introduction to Psycholinguistics: Understanding Language Science.

Chicester: Wiley-Blackwell.

2017. Wandsworth Speech & Language Therapy (Heyday UK). May 17.