Language Disorders
A language disorder is a condition where a person has significant and persistent difficulties understanding and/or using language. These difficulties can affect everyday communication, learning, friendships and participation.
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is diagnosed when a child's language difficulties are not explained by another known biomedical condition
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
DLD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting how a person learns, understands and uses language.
DLD is diagnosed when a child's language difficulties are not explained by another known biomedical condition, such as autism, brain injury, Down Syndrome or hearing impairment. DLD can occur alongside other difficulties, including ADHD, dyslexia and speech sound difficulties.
DLD is sometimes described as a “hidden” difficulty because you cannot necessarily tell that someone has it by looking at them.
Developmental Language Disorder downloads
- Developmental language disorder Young Person handout- 11-18yrs.pdf 574KB
- Supporting developmental language disorder in school.pdf 370KB (RADLD)
- RCSLT-DLD-factsheet-2026.pdf [pdf] 1MB
Useful videos
- DLD 1-2-3
- Developmental language disorder from a child's point of view: The video below from Speech and Language UK gives you an insight as to how children view their own experience of developmental language disorder: https://youtu.be/38ur_bxJJG4?si=vJM1tdIV4sas4C7E
- Developmental language disorder for older children and young people: The video below gives an insight as to how a young person views their own experience of DLD: https://youtu.be/rwOfkj0dj_0?si=TcfY5TZeTGGXbgH2
Language Disorder associated with...
Some children have significant language difficulties alongside or as part of another condition.
This may include conditions such as:
- Autism
- Hearing impairment
- Down syndrome or another genetic condition
- Cerebral palsy
- Acquired brain injury
- Learning disability
In these situations, we may describe the child's difficulties as a ‘language disorder associated with another condition’ rather than DLD. The child may still need specialist support for their language and communication.
What helps
The strengths and needs of children and young people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) or Language Disorder associated with another condition can change over time. Support may focus on specific language targets, such as grammar, vocabulary or sentence structure, alongside helping the young person understand their communication profile, develop self-advocacy skills and build higher-level language abilities. These areas are closely linked and often overlap, supporting participation, independence and wellbeing.
Visuals to support self-advocacy
- Clarification cards traffic lights.pdf 28KB
- Asking for help.pdf [pdf] 201KB
- Clarification Solution Board.pdf 133KB
- Task planner.pdf 24KB
- Task planner with extra symbols.pdf [pdf] 178KB
Visuals to support Vocabulary Learning
Practising higher-level language skills
Understanding their diagnosis (and what it means to them; their strengths & needs)
Classroom/Environmental support
Useful Websites
Useful websites
- Speech and Language Therapy UK: Developmental language disorder awareness - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives
- Raising Awareness of developmental language disorder (RADLD) website: Information - RADLD
- Developmental language disorder and me: https://www.dldandme.org/
- https://www.naplic.org.uk/dld-resources-for-schools-and-families/