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Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
- 1-5 Years
- 5-11 Years
- 11-19 Years
- SEND
- Child development and growing up
- Speech, language and communication
Developmental language disorder (DLD) used to be known as specific language impairment. It's a long-term language difficulty. People with DLD can struggle to say what they’re thinking and understand what people are saying to them. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder like autism or dyslexia.
DLD is very common. Approximately 1 in 15 children and young people have DLD.
There is no known cause of developmental language disorder (DLD). But we do know that it's not caused by emotional difficulties, learning more than one language (bilingualism) or a lack of exposure to language.
DLD can appear alongside other conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyscalculia and speech sound difficulties. Similar to other types of neurodiversity, children do not 'grow out' of DLD.
It is important for you to try to understand your child's needs. This will help them to be well supported as they develop.
Below is a video by Lily, a young woman with DLD explaining her experience.
Source: RADLD Youtube channel
Signs of developmental language disorder (DLD)
The signs of developmental language disorder (DLD) can be hard to spot. Some children and young people may have found strategies to hide or cover up the difficulties they are having.
How to help your child with developmental language disorder
There are a number of ways you can help your child at home.
Make sure to get their attention before giving them information or instructions. You can do this by getting down to their level, saying their name and waiting for them to show they are ready to listen.
Use short and simple sentences. Try breaking down longer instructions into smaller steps. You can also give them instructions in the order that they need to be completed for example "Put your book away. Then sit on the carpet."
Speak slower. This gives your child or young person more time to process what is being said to them.
Use pictures, objects and signs as you talk. When giving instructions, showing them what they have to do. You can use all of the senses to explore new words and ideas like looking, smelling and touching.
Try to use comments more than questions. Use short simple sentences to common on what they are doing. Questions can be harder for children and young people with developmental language disorder to process. It can feel like a test, rather than you trying to teach them how to use language.
Do not stop a conversation to correct their grammar. Stopping a conversation to correct grammar can affect their self-esteem long-term. Try repeat back what your child said using the correct grammar. For example, if they say "Him digged." repeat it back as "Yes! He dug a hole.".
Add to what they say. During the conversation repeat what they said back to them and add more information. For example, if they say "Boy jumping!" repeat it back and add to it "The boy is jumping high!"
Last reviewed: 1 November, 2024
