Language disorder is a condition where:
- a child’s language difficulties are persisting beyond the age of 5 years and having a significant impact on their communication and or learning in everyday life
- past research indicates they are unlikely to catch up spontaneously
If the language disorder is associated with another known condition it is referred to as language disorder associated with X, where X is the known condition. A child may have a language disorder associated with autistic spectrum disorder, for example.
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Children who have more persistent difficulties with language than other areas of learning and development, which are not likely to resolve by 5 years of age, and which are not associated with another condition, can be described as having Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
These children may:
- develop communication skills in a different way to other children
- not make the expected progress, despite targeted intervention
What is DLD?
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a brain difference that makes talking and understanding language difficult. It’s referred to as ‘the most common learning disability that no one has heard of’.
DLD can be described as a significant ongoing difficulty with talking or understanding what other people say, for which there is no obvious cause. It is a neurodevelopmental condition.
How is DLD diagnosed?
DLD is diagnosed by a speech and language therapist.
A child can be diagnosed with DLD if their language difficulties:
- are likely to carry on into adulthood
- are having a significant impact on their progress at school, or on their communication and well-being in everyday life
- mean they are unlikely to catch up without help
- cannot be explained by other conditions such as deafness or learning disabilities
How common is DLD?
Studies have shown that in five-year-olds, DLD affects about two children in every classroom (about seven per cent). This means that it is more common than autism.
What problems does DLD cause for a child?
The kind of difficulties a child or young person experience will vary depending on their age and stage of development.
In general, they will have difficulty:
- understanding spoken language
- putting their thoughts into words and sentences
For some children and young people, only using language is affected.
They may:
- find it difficult to understand and learn the meaning of words
- find it difficult to follow instructions
- find it difficult to answer questions
- struggle to learn or remember words they want to use
- struggle to join words together in a way that makes sense to others
- sound muddled; it can be difficult to follow what they are saying
- find it hard to join in and follow what is going on in the classroom and in the playground
The chart below from RADLD is called the DLD Bubble and shows the range of difficulties DLD can cause.
What is the impact of DLD?
DLD can affect all areas of life, including:
- learning
- communicating
- developing literacy skills
- making and keeping friends
- having a healthy mental and emotional wellbeing
Children with DLD may find it difficult to achieve academic success at school. Sometimes, children withdraw and become passive. Sometimes, difficulties and anxieties linked to DLD can be wrongly interpreted as misbehaviour.
DLD is a long term condition and difficulties can persist into and throughout adulthood.
RADLD has factsheets about Developmental Language Disorder available in several different languages.
What can I do to support a child with DLD?
Some things that are often helpful for children and young people with DLD are to:
- make things as visual as possible – use gestures, signing, pictures, drawing, diagrams, videos and showing to help your child to understand
- encourage your child to use visual strategies to get their message across
- use simple and repetitive language – expect to repeat things many times before your child learns to understand and use the language you are teaching
- make sure your child is given lots of time – they need time to process what is said to them and they need time to process what they want to say
- as your child gets older, support them in feeling confident in explaining their needs and asking for help
- if your child is diagnosed, attend a parent group called ‘DLD Together’ to learn more about DLD and what this means for your child.
The chart below from Moor House Institute gives some useful general strategies
DLD from a child’s point of view
The video below from Speech and Language UK gives you an insight as to how children view their own experience of DLD.
DLD for older children and young people
The DLD and Me website is a useful resource for older children and teens, as well as offering advice to parents and teachers. The video below gives an insight as to how a young person views their own experience of DLD.