Need help finding the name of a speech/comprehension disorder

[Orrex]

I used to work with a woman whose nephew was diagnosed with a language disorder in which his brain suffered a "disconnect" between comprehension and articulation. That is, he could understand speech but could not speak. I believe that intensive therapy can be helpful, but no real "cure" is likely. Also, the condition doesn't necessarily imply any other reduction of mental faculties.

IIRC, the condition is genetic and quite rare. The doctor (quoted to me through my coworker) used the analogy of a TV and VCR in which the signal can be received through the VCR and recorded (i.e., comprehended) but not broadcast through the TV (i.e., articulated).

Has anyone heard of this? I've lost touch with my former coworker, but I've lately been interested in finding out more about the condition.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Aphasia or speech apraxia?

[Orrex]

9. I wondered about aphasia, but...

When she described the condition to me, I don't recall recognizing its name, and I was already familiar with the term "aphasia," so I'm inclined to think that she identified it as something else.

[Botany]

2. George W Bush Syndrome

Although what you might be talking about is a cognitive defect disorder or an organic brain problem.

Ask me anything I have a 2.0 from Ohio U.

[Orrex]

5. I hate you for posting that pic.

Hate you, I say.

Otherwise, thanks for the suggestions. I'll check on it and see if I can find more info that fits.

[asjr]

3. That is disheartening. My 19 month

old grandson speaks gibberish fluently non-stop and the only word he says is "mow" when we ask him what the kitty says. I worry about it but his mother doesn't. Am I being a nut? I told her he would grow up to be a fundamentalist preacher because he already speaks in tongues.

[grasswire]

4. my great-nephew had his own language at that age

It was filled with a lot of consonants -- we joked that he was speaking Welsh, perhaps. He jabbered away non-stop.

Now, at just three years, his speech is adorable and mostly understandable, with what seems to be a large vocabulary. He says "me" for "I" -- as in "Me want to go..." but I happen to think it's just too cute and part of me hopes he will never grow out of saying "me" for "I" although it would be a little peculiar later in life.

Don't worry. I don't think jabbering at 19 months is unusual.

[Orrex]

7. Absolutely don't worry about it!

The uncomfortable thing, for me, is that my coworker was learning of her nephew's condition at just about the exact time that we were starting to worry about our own oldest child's (seemingly) slow acquisition of language. Her account of her nephew's diagnosis filled me with that absolute, certain, and (ultimately) baseless dread well-known to all newish parents who fear that their child has or will have every affliction known to medicine!

If no pediatrician or specialist has expressed concern about your grandson's speech development, I would urge you not to worry unduly. Of course, if you are worried, by all means suggest that they ask his pediatrician the next time they have him in for maintenance.

[Tanuki]

6. From your description, it sound like developmental aphasia. eom

[Orrex]

8. Thanks--I'll look into it.

[LeftishBrit]

10. It would come under the umbrella term of 'specific language impairment'...

Possibly the form sometimes called 'developmental expressive dysphasia' - I think there are also other terms.

Dorothy Bishop has written quite a lot on such problems, e.g. her book 'Uncommon Understanding'.

I hope that the child has had good speech therapy, and has experienced real improvement.

[Orrex]

12. Very interesting--thanks for the information!

I'm afraid that I'm no longer in touch with her, but when we last spoke about it, her nephew was making considerable strides.

I'll check out Ms. Bishop, too.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

11. My nephew had CAS childhood apraxia of speech.

He's made remarkable improvement.