You can't see DLD!

What is DLD?

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a life long neurodiversity that affects 2 children in every class of 30. It falls under the umbrella label of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) which includes children and young people who may have an SLCN that is associated with other needs such as hearing loss, or Autism for example. 

Unlike other neurodivergent areas in special educational needs, such as Autism or Dyslexia, DLD is often misunderstood and overlooked. As of yet there are no known causes. It tends to run in families. It is only diagnosed when there is no other neurobiological difference that can account for a difficulty in acquiring a first language, for example an autistic child may have language disorder associated with autism and therefore will not get a diagnosis of DLD.   

Children, young people and adults with DLD will have a difficulty in one or more areas of language acquisition - listening and attention, understanding, spoken language and pragmatic skills. Pragmatic skills are about socially agreed norms such as body language, facial expresses, gestures, eye contact etc.

Many people including families of, and adults with DLD, are campaigning to raise awareness of this little known and misunderstood area of need.