The ability to express thoughts, needs, or feelings is key to which type of language disorder?

The ability to express thoughts, needs, or feelings is fundamental to expressive language disorders. This type of language disorder specifically impacts an individual's capacity to formulate and communicate ideas effectively. It can manifest in various ways, such as difficulty finding the right words, constructing sentences, or using language appropriately in social situations. Individuals with expressive language disorders may understand what they want to say but struggle to put their thoughts into words, which directly relates to expressing those thoughts, needs, or feelings.

In contrast, phonological disorders primarily involve difficulties in the sound system of the language, affecting speech clarity rather than expressive capabilities. Mixed receptive-expressive disorders encompass challenges in both understanding language and expressing it, but the focus of expressive language disorders is specifically on the expressive aspect. Receptive language disorders relate to the comprehension of language, which does not directly address the ability to express thoughts and feelings. Therefore, the emphasis on expression in the correct answer highlights its central role in understanding expressive language disorders.