DLD in plain English
DLD means a child has ongoing difficulty understanding and/or using spoken language, with no other condition that explains it.
Signs at different ages
- Toddler: few words, frustration, short sentences late
- Primary: muddles word order, struggles to follow instructions, weak vocabulary
- Secondary: trouble with inference, can''t retell events, hides difficulty by being quiet
What to do
- Ask for a Speech & Language Therapy referral
- Tell school — put speech/language support on the SEN Support plan
- If significant, request an EHCP assessment
- See RADLD and Speech and Language UK