There are many causes of speech and language disorders. They may be caused by a medical problem such as recurrent ear infections. They may be caused by environmental factors or by a physical, neurological, or emotional problem. They may be due to faulty learning patterns.

A child may have trouble understanding or expressing ideas clearly. Some children may communicate primarily through gestures, eye gazes, or sounds. A child with a language disorder may have difficulty understanding, following directions, or asking appropriate questions.