Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a lifelong condition affecting a child's ability to understand and use language
Children may have language difficulties for different reasons. Some children have DLD, while others may have a Language Disorder associated with another condition (like Autism or Down Syndrome). Whatever the cause, many of the practical strategies listed in this section can help support a child's understanding, communication and learning.
What is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?
DLD impacts children's development of language skills meaning they find it harder to understand and use language. It can make it harder to learn new words, remember words they know, understand instructions, put thoughts into sentences, answer questions and take part in conversations.
DLD is often described as a hidden disability because children with DLD do not usually look different from their peers. However, language difficulties can have a significant impact on learning, friendships, emotional wellbeing and everyday communication. Every child with DLD has a unique profile of strengths and needs. Some children may have greater difficulties understanding language, while others may find expressing themselves more challenging.
DLD is a lifelong condition, but with the right support children and young people can make progress and develop effective communication skills.
Please watch:
Signs of DLD
A child with DLD may:
- Have difficulty understanding what other people are saying and take longer to respond to questions. They may sometimes give irrelevant answers or say "I don't know" even to questions you may expect them to know the answer for.
- Struggle to follow longer instructions and need repetitions or to be shown. They may look to other children in the classroom and watch what they do for clues.
- Find it difficult to learn and remember new words. They may also struggle to find the right words when talking. They might use lots of vague words such as it, that or thingy, or talk around a word instead, for example: "Umm, it's a... one of those climbing things'
- Use shorter or less detailed sentences than other children of the same age. They may muddle up the order of their words or miss small grammar words in their sentences, for example instead of saying he is going to the shops they might say boy go shop .
- Find it hard to tell stories or talk about events in order: We do farm and then... umm... we did things... and go home
If your child is showing some of these signs, it does not necessarily mean they have DLD. However, it may indicate that they would benefit from support with their speech, language and communication skills.
How DLD can affect children and young people
At Home
Children may:
- struggle to follow conversations
- become frustrated when trying to explain themselves
- need extra time to respond
At School
Children may:
- Find it difficult to access learning in the classroom.
- Become tired from trying to follow and process lots of spoken language.
- Avoid speaking or participating in group discussions.
- Appear distracted, disengaged or unwilling to join activities when they have not fully understood what is expected.
- Become frustrated, anxious or disengaged from learning.
- Find social situations and friendships challenging.
- Be at increased risk of difficulties with reading, writing and academic achievement
Socially
Children may:
- find it harder to join conversations
- misunderstand social situations
- experience difficulties developing friendships
Every child with DLD is different, and the impact will depend on their individual strengths, needs and the support available around them.
How speech and language therapy can help
Understanding a child's needs
Speech and language therapists work with children, families and educational settings to develop an understanding of a child's communication strengths and areas of need. Information may be gathered through discussion, observation and a range of assessment activities. For some children, this process may show they have a difficulties consistent with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
Advice and strategies
Families, schools and settings can be supported with practical advice and strategies to help children understand language, express themselves and participate in everyday activities.
Specialist support
Some children may benefit from a targeted episodes of care focused on agreed outcomes. Sup port is tailored to the child's needs and may include direct work with the child, indirect support through adults around them, or a combination of both.
Working together
Speech and language therapists work in partnership with parents, carers, schools and other professionals, recognising that children make the best progress when communication is supported consistently across home, school and community environments.
Supporting children with DLD at home and at school
At home
- Gain your child's attention before speaking.
- Keep language clear and concise.
- Break instructions into smaller steps.
- Allow extra thinking time before expecting a response.
- Use visual supports, gestures and demonstrations where helpful.
- Repeat and reinforce new vocabulary.
- Encourage conversation about everyday activities.
At school
- Use visual supports alongside spoken information, show as well as tell.
- Check understanding regularly.
- Pre-teach and revisit key vocabulary.
- Break instructions into manageable chunks.
- Allow additional processing time.
- Reduce unnecessary language in tasks and instructions.
- Provide opportunities for supported small-group discussion.
- Adapt language demands without reducing learning opportunities.
Using strategies to support a teenager with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in work - YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DLD the same as a speech difficulty?
No. DLD affects understanding and/or use of language. Some children may also have speech sound difficulties, but they are not the same thing.
Is DLD lifelong?
DLD is a lifelong condition, but with appropriate support children can make excellent progress.
Can bilingual children have DLD?
Yes. DLD can affect children who speak one language or multiple languages, with difficulties seen across all the languages they use. Speaking more than one language does not cause DLD.
Families should continue speaking the language(s) they are most comfortable using at home. There is no evidence that reducing a child to one language improves DLD. Maintaining all of a child's languages supports communication, relationships, cultural identity and language development.
Is DLD caused by autism?
No. DLD and autism are different conditions, although some Autistic children also have Language Disorders.
Resources and further information
National resources
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) awareness - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives
- RADLD - Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder - RADLD
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) - Afasic
- Developmental language disorder | RCSLT
Further videos
Nottinghamshire resources
Parent and carer/ young person speech and language advice line: 0300 123387 (Option 1), Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 12.30am.
Please phone if you need more advice about how and when to refer.
Our referral page: How to refer | Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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