Symptom 2: Struggles with Complex Sentences – Navigating the Labyrinth of Language
Language is not just about single words. It’s also about how we string those words together to form sentences. But for children with DVD, this transition from individual words to sentences can be quite the hurdle. Complex sentences, with their multiple clauses and nuanced structures, pose a unique challenge to these children, making this a significant symptom of DVD.
Imagine a sentence as a journey. For most children, it’s a straightforward trip from Point A to Point B. But for children with DVD, this journey can feel like traversing a labyrinth. Each added word or grammatical structure is like an extra twist or turn that they need to navigate. It’s not that they don’t understand the sentence; it’s just that their brains struggle to coordinate the necessary movements to say it out loud.
Adding to this challenge is the unpredictable nature of language. Unlike a rehearsed song or poem, everyday conversation requires us to constantly create new sentences on the fly. This improvisation is particularly hard for children with DVD. The demands of thinking of what to say, and also planning how to say it, can make complex sentences an uphill task.
This struggle with complex sentences often manifests as simplification. Children with DVD might shorten long sentences or use simpler grammatical structures. They might say “I eat apple” instead of “I am eating an apple,” for example. This sentence simplification is their workaround for the complexities of language. However, it’s also a symptom that can signal the presence of DVD. (2)
