Les troubles du langage de l'enfant : le point de vue du psychiatre

Children language disorders are a frequent reason of consultation. Language is not only a means of expression, knowledge and communication but it also contributes to psychic development. Its exploration is an integral part of children psychiatrical examination. Language disorders appear in very different situations and the polymorphism of the cases requires that the psychiatrist considers the disorder in a developmental and integrationnal point of view. This requires pluridisciplinary collaboration. This way of working seems paradigmatic of the work of a psychiatrist who must consider not only the psychodynamical theory but also cognitive psychology and linguistics.