What can be done to prevent the condition?

Prevention is often not possible. Providing a loving, supportive home can prevent cases due to child abuse or neglect. Mothers who avoid alcohol use during pregnancy can prevent cases from this cause.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

Children with language problems may have trouble in school or with peers. As children get older, they will have social, work, and relationship problems if the language disorder remains. Other long-term effects are related to the cause. For instance, those with hearing impairment often quickly catch up to their peers once a hearing aid is used. In these cases, there may be no long-term effects. Some children with cerebral palsy have severe mental retardation and movement problems. These children may need around-the-clock care.

What are the risks to others?

Language disorders are not contagious. They pose no risk to others. Parents and family members of affected children may experience guilt or other negative feelings. If the cause of the language disorder is an infection, such as otitis media, the infection may be contagious.