Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
What is DLD?
Children with Developmental Language Disorder, or DLD, are as able and healthy as other children in all ways, with one exception; they have enormous difficulty talking and sometimes also understanding language.
DLD is a term that is used to describe difficulties with learning and using language. These difficulties are not associated with factors such as general learning difficulties, or conditions such as cerebral palsy, hearing impairment or autistic spectrum disorders. Children with DLD are often as clever as any other child of their age but they still have difficulties with speech and language.
A child with DLD will not develop speech and language skills in the expected way. More often than not, there is no obvious reason for this difficulty.
This means, for example, a child with DLD might be bright, but struggle to understand the language used in the classroom. They may have lots of ideas but find it hard to make sentences to say what they are thinking, but they do not have any other condition that may be causing these problems.
DLD looks different in all children, and is really complicated to understand because we don't know the cause. We know that the speech and language part of the brain does not develop in the same way as others, even though there are no other problems, and that genes play an important part in causing DLD. Unfortunately, there is no medical test to see if a child has DLD or not.
Studies have shown that in 5 year olds, DLD affects about 2 children in every classroom (about 7%) and that it is more common in boys than girls.
What might DLD look like?
Children with DLD may experience:
- Difficulty understanding spoken instructions
- Limited vocabulary or word-finding difficulties
- Challenges putting sentences together
- Difficulty answering questions or explaining ideas
- Challenges with conversations and social interaction
Every child is unique, and strengths and needs will vary.
How does DLD impact learning?
Language underpins all areas of learning. Children with DLD may find it more difficult to:
- Understand teaching and classroom instructions
- Learn and retain new vocabulary
- Develop reading and writing skills
- Express their knowledge and ideas
- Build and maintain friendships
With the right support, children with DLD can thrive and achieve well.
Children with DLD can have a range of difficulties:
I struggle with reading and writing.
I can sound muddled and disorganised so my talking is difficult to follow.
I don't understand what lots of words mean.
Sometimes I know the word I want but I just can't remember it when I need it.
I can't always say what I want to even though i've got ideas.
In most ways, I'm as able as friends in my class.
I might have behavioural problems and get frustrated or withdrawn.
I can't follow when people say long sentences - it's confusing.
I can talk in sentences but my speech can be difficult to understand.
I can find it hard to join in and work or play with others.
I am quite smart, so even though I don't understand the words, I watch so I know what's going on.
How we support children with DLD at Miles Coverdale
At Miles Coverdale Primary School, we use a range of inclusive strategies to support children with speech, language and communication needs:
- Clear, structured language and modelling
- Visual supports and timetables
- Breaking information into manageable steps
- Pre-teaching and revisiting key vocabulary
- Opportunities for repetition and overlearning
We work closely with families and external professionals to ensure each child receives the support they need.
Specialist Speech and Language Provision
We also have a specialist Speech and Language Unit for children with DLD.
👉 Find out more about our Resource Base here:
Support for Parents and Carers
If you are concerned about your child’s speech or language development, we recommend:
- Speaking to your child’s class teacher
- Discussing concerns with the school SENCo
- Seeking advice from a Speech and Language Therapist, if appropriate
Early support can make a significant difference.