Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

What is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?

• Children and young people with DLD have difficulties understanding spoken language and/or using it to express themselves.
• A child or young person may be described as having DLD when their language difficulties:
  • make everyday life and learning at nursery or school much harder
  • continue even after getting extra help at home and in nursery or school
  • are likely to be long term.
• There is no known cause of DLD. However, we know that it is not caused by:
  • parenting style
  • being bilingual
  • emotional difficulties
  • being autistic
  • other medical conditions, such as hearing loss or severe learning difficulties.
• Children and young people with DLD may have other conditions such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or Dyslexia.
• DLD affects around two children in every classroom.

How does a child with DLD act at school?

Every child and young person with DLD is different. Children's needs and behaviours will also change as they get older.

• These are some of the things you may see in a child or young person with DLD:
  • Difficulties focussing in class (especially when listening to lots of spoken information).
  • Finding it hard to follow instructions or understand questions.
  • They might need more time to make sense of spoken or written information.
  • Limited understanding and use of words.
  • They may find it hard to express themselves, including finding the right words and putting their ideas in order.
  • Having trouble getting along with others, including joining in, working or playing together.
  • Having difficulties understanding things like jokes, puns, slang, or words that do not mean exactly what they say.
  • Having difficulties with reading and writing.
• Some children and young people who have behaviour or emotional problems may also have DLD without anyone knowing.
• Language and communication difficulties should be considered for these children.

What can I do to support them?

• Children and young people with DLD do not learn language as fast or as easily as others. They need extra help and other ways to learn.
• In a communication-friendly place, children and young people with DLD can do well in school.
• Adults can help children and young people by changing how they talk and communicate. The next few points can help with this:
  • Showing information with pictures, symbols, photos, or videos.
  • Creating ways to learn by doing things and giving them the experience of trying.
  • Using shorter instructions, asking simpler questions, giving clear examples, and explaining new words.
  • Giving them more time to understand questions and instructions. This allows them to think of their own ideas.
  • Let them use a 'talk partner' about their ideas before sharing them with the class.
  • Repeating and practicing things they have already learned so they can remember and build on them.
  • Working together, like setting goals and planning, to best help the child or young person.

Speech and language therapy support

If you are worried about a child or young person in your class who is having trouble understanding or using language, talk to your link Therapist or call 020 3316 8900 to join a phone drop-in session and speak to a Therapist.

Get more information about DLD on these websites:

• AFASIC https://afasic.org.uk/
• Speech and Language UK https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/educators-and-professionals/resource-library-for-educators/developmental-language-disorder-dld/
• Raising Awareness of DLD (RADLD) https://radid.org/
• NAPLIC - DLD Resources for Schools and Families https://www.naplic.org.uk/dld-resources-for-schools-and-families/

Contact our service

Call us on 020 3316 8900, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.

Out of hours: please leave a message with your name and number, and we will call you back by the next working day.

You can also email us at whh-tr.barnetcit@nhs.net