What is DLD?

DLD is different for everyone. Some people find these things tricky:

• Understanding what other people say

• Remembering what people say

• Working out the right words to say

• Putting ideas into sentences and stories

What causes DLD?

We don’t know exactly why some people have DLD. We know DLD can run in families. DLD is a brain difference you have from birth. It just means a person’s brain finds understanding and/or talking a little tricky.

• You cannot cause DLD.

• It is not parents’/ carers’ fault.

• DLD is not to do with how clever a person is.

• DLD is not caused by other conditions like Autism or brain injury.

• DLD is not caused by speaking more than one language.

What are people with DLD good at?

People with DLD can be great at lots of different things e.g. sport, art, music, gaming, fashion, making people laugh, computers, maths and lots more.

Is DLD forever?

Yes. That means there are children, teenagers and grown-ups who have DLD. They can learn lots of ways to help with this. It doesn’t have to be such a barrier. Talking and understanding can get easier with help. Help can come from speech and language therapists, teachers, family and friends.

How many other people have DLD?

DLD is very common. About 2 people in every class have DLD

What can I do to help?

• Get your child’s attention. Say their name and make sure they can see your face.

• Use simple talking and repeat it if needed. Keep instructions simple. Say them in the order you want them carried out e.g. First …, then…

• Check your child has understood e.g. “Tell me what you need to do”.

• Talk calmly and slowly. Use pauses to help them think and have time to respond. Give one instruction at a time.

• Use pictures, gestures and objects. This helps them to understand what you are saying.

• Support your child to interact in whatever way they can. This might be pointing/ showing you something, facial expression, gestures, key words.

• Help your child’s social skills. Model taking turns, listening to others, and using simple words to do this.

• Give your child specific praise. Praise any efforts to understand and use language.

Where can I find out more?

DLD and Me.co.uk is a website for kids and teenagers to learn about DLD. It also shares how people with DLD have told others.

You can find videos about DLD at RADLD.

What can I do to help?

Something we can all do is to make the communication situations as communication friendly or supportive as possible. This means everyone thinking about:

  • the physical environment -make it organised and visual, using photos, pictures, signs and gestures to back up words
  • the communication style of the people within those environments – keep language simple, pause and give ‘thinking time’, be positive about what the child does well
  • the child’s opportunities to communicate.

If you have concerns about your child’s language development speak to your health visitor, pre-school, school or contact our service.