With Speech Pathologist Aoife
If you've noticed your child struggling to find the right words, follow instructions, or keep up in conversations, you might be wondering what's going on. Speech Pathologist Aoife from The Play Way Team sat down with us to talk about Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), a condition that affects more children than many people realise. Here's what parents need to know about recognising DLD, supporting their child, and understanding what this diagnosis means for the future.
What is DLD?
"Developmental Language Disorder is a permanent, lifelong condition where children have difficulty understanding and using language that impacts their functioning in daily life," Aoife explains. "DLD cannot be explained by any other developmental, neurological or physical condition like autism, hearing difficulties, or brain injury."
What surprises many parents is just how common DLD is. "It affects about 1 in 14 children," Aoife says. "That's roughly two children in every classroom, which makes it more common than autism. Yet it's less well-known and often underdiagnosed."
How DLD shows up in everyday life
For parents wondering whether what they're seeing at home might be DLD, Aoife offers some insight into how the condition typically presents.
A child with DLD may have trouble finding the right words, forming sentences, or understanding what others are saying, especially when instructions are complex. They might struggle to focus on tasks or to remember things they've been told.
"They might use shorter, simpler sentences than their peers, or they might mix up the order of words when speaking," Aoife explains. "These difficulties will also likely impact written language, with children with DLD often experiencing challenges with reading and writing."
DLD can also affect how children engage in conversations, make friends, or participate in classroom activities, which can be frustrating for them.
Common misconceptions about DLD
There are quite a few misunderstandings about DLD, and Aoife is keen to set the record straight.
"They'll grow out of it"
"Some believe that children with DLD will naturally outgrow their language difficulties without intervention or support," Aoife says. "But DLD is a persistent, lifelong condition. While children may make progress, they often need specialist support to improve their language skills."
"It's just a speech problem"
People often confuse DLD with speech sound disorders, thinking it's just about pronunciation or clarity. "DLD affects the ability to understand and use language, which goes beyond speech," Aoife explains. "It can impact grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension."
"They're just not trying hard enough"
Some might think a child with DLD isn't putting in enough effort to speak or understand. "DLD is not a matter of effort. It's a neurodevelopmental condition," Aoife says. "Children with DLD are often trying very hard but face genuine difficulties."
"It's the same as a learning disability"
DLD is sometimes incorrectly grouped together with other learning disabilities. "While DLD can co-occur with other learning disabilities, it's a distinct condition focused specifically on language development," Aoife clarifies.
"People with DLD are not smart"
Because children with DLD may have difficulties expressing their ideas or thoughts, they may be labelled unfairly. "DLD is not associated with an intellectual disability," Aoife says. "People with DLD can be highly intelligent, but they may just have different ways of expressing it."
Practical strategies to support your child
If you're noticing that your child is finding language challenging, Aoife has some straightforward strategies to try at home.
Use simple, clear language. Speak in short, clear sentences and avoid using complex words or phrases. Break down instructions into small, manageable steps. "This makes it easier for the child to understand and follow along without feeling overwhelmed," Aoife says.
Pause and give time. After asking a question or giving an instruction, pause and give the child extra time to process and respond. "Children with DLD often need more time to understand language and formulate their responses."
Model language. Instead of correcting mistakes directly, model the correct way to say something. For example, if the child says, "He goed to the park," you can respond, "Yes, he went to the park." "This reinforces correct language use without making the child feel self-conscious about errors," Aoife explains.
Encourage conversation. Engage the child in conversations about things that interest them. Ask open-ended questions that encourage more than just yes/no answers. "Regular conversation practice helps build confidence and language skills in a natural, low-pressure way."
Use visual supports. Pair your words with gestures, pictures, or visual supports such as a schedule or magnets with pictures to help the child understand what you're saying. "Visuals can provide additional context and make it easier for the child to grasp and remember information."
Read together. Read books together, and discuss the story as you go. Ask questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why do you think the character is sad?" "Reading builds vocabulary and comprehension, and discussing the story helps the child practise expressing ideas and understanding language," Aoife says.
Be patient and positive. Be patient and encourage the child with positive reinforcement. Celebrate small successes and show understanding when they struggle. "A supportive environment boosts the child's confidence and motivation to keep trying."
Repeat and rephrase. If the child doesn't understand something, try repeating it or rephrasing it in a different way. "This gives the child another chance to catch the meaning without feeling pressured."
Check in with the child. "Many children and adults with DLD report feeling like words 'go over their head' or that their brains 'can't keep up' with the influx of information," Aoife explains. "Older children and adults have lived with this condition for a long time, and may have strategies that have worked for them in the past. So it may be useful to check in with them to see what they need."
A real-world example
Aoife shares a story about a child she worked with who had DLD and struggled to form complete sentences and follow multi-step instructions at school.
"He often became frustrated when trying to express himself and found it challenging to join in with his peers," she recalls. "He would say things like, 'I want, um, the...you know,' and had trouble completing thoughts, which led to his frustration."
In therapy, Aoife focused on several key areas. "We used structured language activities that involved building sentences with picture cards, which helped him learn to organise his thoughts, organise his words into sentences, and then express them more clearly. We worked on learning and using new vocabulary, so that he felt more confident in his ability to choose the right words for various contexts and conversations."
To improve his comprehension, Aoife used visual supports such as visual schedules to improve his understanding of everyday tasks and routines, and made sure all instructions were broken down into smaller, manageable steps.
At home, his parents followed these strategies by simplifying their language, modelling complete sentences, and using visual schedules to help him understand daily routines. His teacher adapted classroom activities by providing step-by-step instructions and offering additional support during group tasks.
"As a result of these interventions, he began to gain confidence and make progress," Aoife says. "He started saying things like, 'I want the blue car to play with,' and participated more actively in conversations and group activities. These supports helped him communicate more effectively and feel more engaged with his peers."
Aoife notes an important point about ongoing support. "When he was doing well with his communication, I made sure to discuss with his parents that just because he was doing well it did not mean that he no longer needed the support. He was doing well because he had the supports in place. This is often something parents find challenging. Once the child is doing well they may remove or reduce the supports, and eventually the child has challenges again and the parent feels like they are going 'backwards'."
Questions parents often ask
What exactly is DLD, and how is it different from other language or speech issues?
"DLD is a condition where a child has difficulty understanding and using language, despite typical development in other areas," Aoife explains. "It is not caused by other conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, or autism, however it can co-occur with some conditions like dyslexia and ADHD. It affects understanding and speaking, and often reading and writing too."
Will my child outgrow DLD?
"DLD is a lifelong condition, but with the right support, children can make significant progress and learn to manage their challenges effectively," Aoife says.
What causes DLD? Is it something I did?
"DLD is not caused by anything a parent did or didn't do," Aoife reassures. "It's a neurodevelopmental condition, and the exact cause is often unknown. It's related to how the brain processes language."
What does DLD mean for my child's academic and social life as they grow older?
"While DLD can present challenges, especially in school and social settings, with appropriate intervention, many children with DLD lead successful and fulfilling lives."
How is DLD diagnosed?
"DLD is typically diagnosed through a combination of observations, standardised language assessments, and input from parents and teachers," Aoife explains. "A speech pathologist leads the evaluation process."
What does therapy involve, and how long will my child need it?
"Therapy is tailored to your child's specific needs and typically involves regular sessions focused on improving vocabulary, sentence structure, and comprehension, as well as equipping them with practical and functional communication strategies," Aoife says. "The duration varies depending on the child's progress and may be something that you come back to at various times in your child's life."
Can DLD co-occur with other conditions?
"Yes, DLD can co-occur with other conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, or dyscalculia, but it is a distinct disorder," Aoife clarifies. "Each condition requires its own specific support."
What accommodations can I ask for at school to help my child succeed?
"It's important to collaborate with teachers to ensure your child has the necessary support, such as modified instructions, extra time for tasks, or language supports in class," Aoife advises.
How do I explain DLD to family, friends, or teachers who don't understand it?
"You can explain that DLD affects how your child understands and uses language, and that they might need more time or different methods to communicate effectively," Aoife suggests. "Children with DLD will often have many strengths and it's important to keep these in mind. Sharing resources or inviting them to speak with your child's speech pathologist can also help."
Fascinating facts about DLD
Here are some interesting things you might not know about DLD:
Before being officially named Developmental Language Disorder in 2017, DLD was referred to by various terms like Specific Language Impairment (SLI) or Language Delay, which led to some confusion in diagnosis and understanding.
There's a growing global effort to raise awareness about DLD, including initiatives like DLD Awareness Day, which takes place annually on the third Friday of October to increase understanding and support for those affected by the condition.
Australia is home to a number of leading experts in this field, including researchers at Griffith University, Curtin University, the University of Queensland, and the University of Tasmania, who are working to improve outcomes for children with DLD through research, assessment development, and practical resources for clinicians and families.
For more expert advice on supporting your child's language development, check out The Play Way app, where Aoife and the team share videos and resources on DLD and other communication challenges.
