What is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?
DLD is a condition where a child has ongoing difficulty with understanding and using language (receptive and expressive language), where these difficulties are not explained by other factors such as hearing loss, intellectual disability, known medical conditions or autism.
This differs from ‘late talkers’ as children with DLD have persistent difficulties and may not spontaneously catch up over time. These children will have ongoing difficulty with understanding language, learning new words and using grammar correctly.
DLD can affect about 1 in 14 children. It can present differently in every child, but here are some common signs to look out for.
What Does Developmental Language Delay Look Like?
Expressive language: children are using fewer words than other children their age, have difficulty putting words into sentences, use shorter and simpler sentences, and have trouble finding the right words.
Receptive language: children are having difficulty following instructions, need things to be simplified or repeated multiple times, or are struggling to understand questions they are asked.
Grammar and sentence structure: they are missing small words (auxiliary words) such as ‘is’, ‘the’ or ‘a’ or they can mix up word order in sentences (e.g. me go park).
Social communication: children may have difficulty joining in conversations with others, trouble taking turns when talking, and finding it hard to explain ideas or tell stories.
Accessing Speech Pathology support
As language is critical for academic learning, making friends and expressing themselves, children with DLD will often experience frustration when communicating, reduced confidence and challenges with reading and writing later on.
Would early Intervention make a difference?
Accessing early support/intervention can make a significant difference by helping children build the skills they need to communicate more effectively.
How can a Speech Pathologist help?
- Assess the child’s language skills
- Identify areas of strengths and areas of need
- Create personalized goals
- Provide therapy through play and everyday activities
- Teach parents strategies to support language development at home
Support is often most effective when it continues beyond sessions and is built into daily routines like playtime, mealtime, and reading together.
How can parents support their child?
A speech pathologist can guide parents and provide effective strategies as well as home practice activities to complete throughout the week. Parents can also support their child through simple strategies such as;
- Following your child’s lead
- Using short, clear sentences that are fitting to your child’s language level
- Pausing and waiting to give a child time to respond
- Book sharing and playing together regularly
These small changes will create more opportunities for your child to hear and use language.
If you are concerned about your child’s language, it is recommended to seek early support so that your child can build strong communication skills that will aid them through their schooling and social life.