Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
What Is Developmental Language Disorder?
Developmental language disorder (DLD) involves persistent difficulty learning, understanding and/or using language that affects everyday communication or learning. DLD can affect understanding (receptive language), using language (expressive language), or both.
The term DLD is used when the language difficulties are not associated with a known biomedical condition. When they are associated with a condition such as autism, intellectual disability, or a brain injury, clinicians may use the term “language disorder associated with” that condition. DLD can occur alongside other difficulties, such as ADHD or dyslexia.
DLD affects roughly two children in a class of 30, according to UK research. It can be easy to miss, particularly when a child speaks clearly or seems to manage familiar routines.
The exact causes of DLD are still being studied. It can run in families, and parents are not to blame. Learn more in Speech and Language UK’s DLD guide.
Receptive and Expressive Language: How They Relate to DLD
You may hear different terms when discussing your child’s language development:
- Receptive language disorder describes difficulty understanding language, such as vocabulary, questions, instructions, or longer explanations.
- Expressive language disorder describes difficulty using language to share ideas, such as finding words, forming sentences, or telling a story. Understanding may be stronger than expression.
- Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder describes difficulties with both understanding and using language.
These labels can overlap with DLD. Receptive and expressive describe the areas of language affected; DLD describes a persistent developmental language disorder that may affect either area or both. Not every receptive or expressive language difficulty is DLD, and terminology varies between professionals and settings.
A speech-language assessment helps identify your child’s strengths, areas of difficulty, and the support they need. Learn more about our language therapy.
Signs of DLD
Signs vary by age, but may include:
- Slow to start combining words as a toddler
- Shorter sentences than peers, with frequent grammatical errors
- Difficulty following multi-step instructions
- Trouble finding the right word (word-finding difficulties)
- Struggling to tell a story or explain an event in order
- Difficulty understanding classroom language, especially as it becomes more complex
- Reading and writing challenges that persist beyond early literacy instruction
How DLD Differs From Being a Late Talker
Some late talkers catch up by school age without intervention. Children with DLD continue to struggle with language well beyond the toddler years. The difficulties tend to become more visible as language demands increase, particularly when children begin school and are expected to follow spoken instructions, read, write, and participate in group discussions.
How Speech Therapy Helps
A speech-language pathologist can assess your child’s language profile and create a targeted plan. Therapy for DLD typically includes:
- Building vocabulary and word-finding strategies
- Strengthening sentence structure and grammar
- Improving listening comprehension and ability to follow instructions
- Supporting narrative skills (telling and retelling stories)
- Collaborating with teachers to support classroom learning
- Addressing reading and writing difficulties that stem from underlying language weaknesses
Classroom support can include shorter instructions, visual prompts, and extra processing time.
Children and adolescents with DLD can benefit from support tailored to their needs. Explore our language therapy and literacy support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a child have DLD even if their speech sounds clear?
Yes. Clear pronunciation does not tell us how well a child understands or organises language. Speech sounds and language skills need separate consideration during assessment, so a child can be easy to understand and still need language support.
Does learning two languages cause DLD?
No. Learning more than one language does not cause DLD, and switching to one language does not resolve it. Continue using the languages you are comfortable speaking with your child. An assessment should consider all the languages your child uses, along with their exposure to each, because skills can look different across languages.
How can I make everyday instructions easier for my child to follow?
Give one step at a time, use specific words, and pause to allow time to process. Point, show, or use a picture alongside your words when helpful. Check understanding by asking your child to show or explain the next step, rather than only asking whether they understand.