What is Gestalt Language Processing?

If you have been searching online recently to figure out more about your child’s communication, you might have come across a new term: gestalt language processing .

For many families, this is the first time they’ve heard it, and it can sound a bit overwhelming at first.

So let’s break it down.

When we think about language development, most of us will be familiar with the idea that children learn individual words first (“milk”, “more”, “teddy”) and gradually combine them into longer sentences. This is called analytic language processing.

Gestalt language processing (GLP) is simply a different route to learning language. GLPs tend to learn in chunks rather than in individual units. They might learn a whole routine from start to finish to help them understand their environment, and repeat those routines exactly every time (bath times, walking routes etc). Instead of building sentences word-by-word, they might pick up whole phrases at once.

These chunks of language, or ‘gestalts’, might come from:

• Things adults often say in a similar way (“Come on then”, “See ya!”, “What’s that?”)

• Favourite TV shows or films (“Whatcha doin’ Olaf?”)

• Songs or nursery rhymes (“Ee-i-ee-i-oh”)

• Books or repeated routines (“Juice time!”)

You might hear your child say something that feels surprisingly long, even though they don’t yet use many individual words. It may seem out of context. It may be difficult to understand and sound like babble. This kind of repetition is called echolalia, and it’s an important part of how gestalt language processors learn to communicate. Rather than being something to discourage, echolalia is usually meaningful. It’s often the child’s way of expressing needs, feelings, or ideas using the language they currently know and have access to.

What are some common features of gestalt language processing?

Every child is different, but you may notice some of the following:

Tuneful strings of sounds that are sentence-like but difficult to understand: Gestalt language processors are often incredibly attentive to tone, rhythm, and emotion. They may pick up on the music of language before the individual words

• Particular enjoyment of songs and rhymes

• Repeated phrases, often following a similar intonation pattern each time, and may be repeated from media.  

• Phrases that might not always seem to fit the situation. For example, a child might say “Ready, steady, go!” when they want help opening a snack.

• Immediate and/or delayed echolalia: Your child may immediately repeat back what you have just said, or they may repeat something days or weeks later.

It’s worth saying, gestalt language processing is commonly discussed in relation to autistic children. Whilst is has been shown to be associated, not all GLPs are autistic, and not all autistic children are GLPs.

What about support and therapy?

Gestalt language processing is a term that’s becoming more widely used, especially online, but it’s still relatively new for many professionals and families in the UK. Research is ongoing, and there’s active discussion about which approaches best support gestalt processors.

At the moment, there isn’t one universally agreed pathway, and we know that can feel unsettling for parents. At Nurture, we are taking a child centred approach which puts the connection between the child and their key caregivers at the heart of our therapy plan. We work together with parents to understand their child’s communication style, to embrace it and to adapt our interaction styles to meet the child where they currently are.

If you want to get started with supporting a gestalt language processor, you might want to try these key principles:

• Accept and acknowledge all communication 

  Even when something seems out of context, or is difficult to understand, your child is still communicating something to you. Say “Yeh!”, “Mmhmm”, “Really!”, and or repeat back what you have heard them say  (even if it’s just sounds). This shows your child that you hear them and are there to connect with them at their pace.

• Aim for connection, not correction

Communication grows from relationships. Try to follow your child’s lead in play. Join in with what interests them, and resist the temptation to direct the activity or have a specific idea about what you want them to learn. Silence can be powerful — it gives your child time to process and communicate in their own way, and establishes you as a trusted responsive play partner.

• Use play and everyday routines as your tools

Some of the best language opportunities come from ordinary moments. Everyday routines are predictable, which helps children feel secure. They also repeat daily, giving lots of chances to hear the same helpful language again and again.

• Use more comments and fewer questions

Most children in the early stages of gestalt language development are not ready to answer questions. Try to model language that matches what you are doing, and might be something your child could say. For example, instead of “What are you drawing?” you could say “Let’s draw!”, “That’s a big circle” or “I like that drawing”

A final thought

The important thing to know is that even though gestalt language processing often looks different to the traditional expected milestones, it is a natural and meaningful way of learning language. Children who process in this way can go on to develop flexible, self-generated language. Their journey just looks a little different. Start by listening, watching, acknowledging and celebrating every unique communication that your child makes. That connection is the foundation for everything that comes next.

If you think your child may be a gestalt processor and you would like to discuss how we may be able to support, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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