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What is Developmental Language Disorder?

Around 1 in 14 children are affected by Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). But many of us don’t know anything about it.

Louisa Reeves from Speech and Language UK says, “It’s quite common and because it can look like other things - including autism or dyslexia - it’s often missed.” We chatted to Louisa to find out what DLD is, the signs your child might have the condition and how you can help them.

What is DLD?

People with Developmental Language Disorder have difficulty talking and understanding language. If your child has DLD, they might mix words up in a sentence or misunderstand what you’re asking them to do. A lifelong condition, it’s often called a “hidden disability” because it’s not always obvious that someone has DLD. Louisa says, “DLD is very common and tends to cause problems understanding words and longer sentences. For example, if you ask your child to ‘run upstairs, get their shoes and pick up their jumper on the landing’, they might get their shoes, but they wouldn’t necessarily get the rest of the sentence.”

A dad and his son sat on a park bench eating ice lollies.
If your child has DLD, they might mix words up in a sentence or misunderstand what you’re asking them to do.

What causes DLD?

No one really knows, but it’s often spotted when children start school. It can be mild or severe and Louisa adds, “There’s no one single cause. It’s probably a number of factors and it can run in the family. If you have any late talkers in the family or other family members that have had language difficulties, that may be something to look out for.”

What are the signs of DLD in children?

Some signs of DLD in children:

  • Your child struggles to find the words to say what they want

  • They mix their words up in a sentence

  • They have a limited vocabulary

  • They don’t understand what you’re asking them to do, or find it hard following instructions

  • They’re not able to say how they feel, or to express themselves

  • They find it hard to tell a story and put things into a sequence of events

  • They don’t have the names for things: a red ball becomes 'that one' for example

  • Older children might have difficulties reading

  • They struggle with the idea of past, present and future

  • They don’t use proper grammar: 'I run' becomes 'I runned'

  • They get upset when routines change

  • They find it hard to make, and keep, friends

  • You find yourself having to 'translate' what your child is saying for other people

Louisa adds, “These are just some of the signs to look out for. If you’re worried about your child’s speech and language, help is out there.” Speech and Language UK has a with some simple yes/no questions to help gauge where your child is at with their communication and with knowing whether to seek further help. If you have concerns you can have a if any issues are flagged up.

A dad walking with his daughter, he is holding a scooter.
DLD has no known cause and can be hard to spot.

What age do children get DLD?

As there is no known cause of DLD, it’s hard to say when it develops. It could be that children are born with DLD, while the different ways their brains develop as they grow may also play a part. In any case, it might take a while to spot if your child has it. “Children can be good at finding ways to cope”, says Louisa. “As adults, we do a lot of hand gestures and follow routines that give clues to meaning. A child knows it’s dinner time as the cutlery is on the table, or that it’s time to go out because you’re holding their coat. If they have DLD, they can get very upset by any change to their routine because they’ve not understood what is expected of them or what is happening. And this is why DLD is so hard to spot - other conditions can leave children feeling upset by change too.”

When is DLD usually spotted?

DLD is not usually diagnosed in children under 5. It’s more likely to become obvious when they start school and when language gets more sophisticated. And sometimes it does not become clear until secondary school, as children come to hear four times as much language as they do in primary. Louisa adds, “Sometimes children can cope in primary school but it's when the language demands increase significantly at secondary school that their challenges become much more apparent."

Frustration at not being able to get their message across could be another sign. “A 2-year-old will go through a period where what they want to say outstrips their ability to say things. That’s totally normal, but if that carries on and your 3-year-old is still struggling to say what they want, or other adults are struggling to understand them, it could be an early sign of DLD.”

A teacher pointing at a primary school girl's exercise book.
DLD is often only spotted when children start school and the language used around them becomes more sophisticated.

How do you get a DLD diagnosis?

Your child will be diagnosed by a speech and language therapist. You’d need to see your GP or health visitor and ask for a referral. You can get free speech and language therapy for children on the NHS and your local NHS website will have information on how to get referred. “There is no one single test for DLD, instead it’s more of a developmental assessment over time”, explains Louisa. “You’ll have a number of appointments where the therapist will ask different questions to assess your child.”

When should I get expert help?

If you’re worried, talk to their teacher or key person to see if they are noticing any issues with talking or understanding words.“Parents will know if a child is really struggling”, says Louisa. “If you read a story with them, can they tell it back to you and does it make sense? Are they using the words you’ve used, and are they picking up on new words at nursery or school?”

What is the difference between DLD and dyslexia?

Because DLD can mean children have difficulties reading, it can be confused with dyslexia once children begin learning to read. But they’re very different. DLD means your child might struggle to understand what is happening in the story and what the words mean. Dyslexia means your child might struggle to read the actual words.

Louisa says, “DLD can look like other things, meaning parents and teachers might feel children are a little behind their peers or lacking in confidence. It can then be disguised as a reading problem. If they are struggling to answer basic questions about the story, it’s more likely they are struggling with language rather than reading.”

A mum and her daughter looking at a picture book.
DLD can sometimes be confused for dyslexia, but they are different conditions.

How can I help my child if they have DLD?

1. Get their attention

Say your child’s name first to make sure they are listening before you give any instructions or ask them a question.

2. Use simple sentences

Help your child understand by using simple words. Children with DLD can struggle with negatives: if your child is told, 'don’t run' they might miss the &#łæ27;ČÔ’t&#łæ27; part of the word. Try saying ‘walk’ instead.

3. Use gestures

Anything that supports your child to understand what you’re saying to them will help. Talk and use gestures at the same time.

4. Give one instruction at a time

Stick to one idea at a time. This will help your child understand what you’re asking them to do.

5. Check they’ve understood

Ask them to repeat back what you’ve said to them or asked them to do.

6. Use new words

Model language to your child by using new vocabulary. If they say, 'my wellies', you could reply, 'your blue wellies.'

7. Play language games

Help with the idea of past and future with this teddy game or practise retelling stories together. There are lots more activities to try here.

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