At a Loss for Words: Difficulty with Lexical Access

Although we hear very little about this disorder, it should not be overlooked, because it can have a serious impact on communication and learning skills. People with lexical access difficulties often search for words when they speak and make do with imprecise words (thing, thingamajig, whatchamacallit) or related words (shoe instead of boot, table instead of countertop) or even invented words (“letter sleeve” instead of envelope). Such behaviour could be misinterpreted as a sign of a poor vocabulary, since people with lexical access difficulties always use the same simple words when they speak.

We all find ourselves searching for words at one time or another. We call this “having the word on the tip of our tongue.” We may draw a blank at any time, but most often when we are very tired.

Children may experience this a lot more often, as they are still building their vocabulary and certain concepts are not yet as well-defined in their minds as they are for adults.

If the description above reminds you of your child, we urge you to consult a speech-language pathologist, who will assess your child’s language level through various tests. During the evaluation, the speech-language pathologist will assess, among other things, receptive-expressive vocabulary and hearing in order to determine the cause of the problems observed. If lexical access difficulties are suspected, the specialist will suggest possible solutions or an intervention plan.

But above all, remember that your child should have fun communicating! Play with your child and seize every opportunity to teach him/her new words!