Developmental Language Disorder: What is it and activities to improve it!

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a complex condition that affects a child’s ability to acquire and use language effectively. Unlike language difficulties stemming from hearing impairments or other medical issues, DLD presents unique challenges that can significantly impact a child’s academic performance, social interactions, and self-esteem. Understanding these challenges is essential for parents, educators, and caregivers to provide appropriate support.

What is DLD?

DLD is characterized by difficulties in various aspects of language development. Research indicates that approximately 7% of children are affected by DLD, making it one of the most common developmental disorders (Norbury et al., 2016). Children with DLD may struggle with:

1. Vocabulary: Many children with DLD exhibit limited word use and find it challenging to understand or learn new vocabulary. Studies show that children with DLD often have a smaller lexicon compared to their peers, impacting their ability to express themselves and understand others (Bishop et al., 2016).

2. Grammar: Constructing sentences can be a significant hurdle for children with DLD. They may have difficulties with tense usage, plurals, and forming complex sentences. Research indicates that these grammatical challenges can persist into adolescence, affecting academic writing and comprehension (Conti-Ramsden et al., 2018).

3. Narrative Skills: The ability to tell stories or explain events clearly is often compromised in children with DLD. This can manifest as disorganized storytelling or difficulty recalling events in a coherent manner. Narrative skills are crucial for academic success and social interactions, making this a critical area of concern (Hugh-Jones & St. Clair, 2013).

4. Social Communication: Children with DLD may struggle to interpret social cues, take turns in conversation, or maintain a topic of discussion. These challenges can lead to difficulties in forming friendships and participating in group activities, which are vital for social development (Wetherell et al., 2018).

5. Overall Communication: DLD affects both expressive language (what children say) and receptive language (understanding what others say). This dual impact can create a cycle of frustration, as children may know what they want to say but struggle to articulate it clearly.

Impact of DLD

The implications of DLD extend beyond language itself. Academic performance can be significantly hindered due to difficulties with reading, writing, and comprehension skills. Socially, children with DLD may experience isolation or bullying, leading to decreased confidence and self-esteem. According to a study by Clegg et al. (2005), children with language difficulties are at an increased risk of experiencing social-emotional challenges, highlighting the need for comprehensive support systems.

Early Identification and Intervention

Early identification of DLD is crucial for effective intervention. Research has shown that the sooner a child receives support, the better their outcomes in both language and social skills (Bishop, 2014). Speech and language therapy is often a key component of treatment, providing targeted strategies to improve vocabulary, grammar, and social communication.

In addition to therapy, parents and educators can create supportive environments that foster language development. Engaging children in conversations, reading together, and encouraging storytelling can provide practical, everyday opportunities for growth.

Activities you can do with children with DLD:

1. Vocabulary Building with Picture Cards

Activity: Create a set of picture cards depicting common objects, animals, or actions.
How to Play:

• Show a picture card and ask the child to name the item.
• Encourage them to use the word in a sentence.
• Play a matching game where the child matches words to pictures.

2. Storytelling with Story Cubes

Activity: Use story cubes (dice with images) to inspire storytelling.
How to Play:

• Roll the cubes and have the child create a story using the images that appear.
• Encourage them to describe the characters, setting, and plot.
• Ask follow-up questions to promote narrative skills (e.g., "What happens next?").

3. Sentence Construction Challenge

Activity: Use sentence strips or building blocks with words.
How to Play:

• Provide words related to a specific theme (e.g., animals, food).
• Challenge the child to construct sentences using those words.
• Gradually introduce more complex sentence structures, like adding adjectives or conjunctions.

4. Role-Playing Social Scenarios

Activity: Set up role-playing situations to practice social communication.
How to Play:

• Create scenarios (e.g., ordering food, greeting a friend) and role-play them together.
• Focus on taking turns in conversation and responding appropriately.
• Discuss the social cues involved in each scenario.

5. Treasure Hunt for Comprehension

Activity: Organize a treasure hunt that involves following directions.
How to Play:

• Give the child simple, step-by-step directions to find hidden objects.
• Use phrases like “first,” “next,” and “last” to reinforce sequencing.
• Encourage them to explain how they found the treasure, enhancing expressive language.

6. Descriptive Drawing

Activity: Combine art with language by having the child draw and describe their artwork.
How to Play:

• Ask the child to draw a picture based on a prompt (e.g., their favorite animal).
• Once the drawing is complete, have them describe it using detailed language (colors, shapes, and actions).
• This encourages both expressive language and vocabulary development.

7. Listening Games

Activity: Engage in games that focus on listening and comprehension skills.
How to Play:

• Play “Simon Says” to practice following verbal instructions.
• Use audio stories or songs and ask questions about them afterward to check comprehension.
• Encourage the child to summarize what they heard.

8. Interactive Reading

Activity: Choose engaging books and read together, focusing on language use.
How to Play:

• Pause frequently to ask questions about the story and characters.
• Encourage the child to predict what might happen next.
• Discuss new vocabulary and encourage them to use it in sentences related to the story.

9. Board Games for Turn-Taking and Language Skills

Activity: Play board games that require taking turns and using language.
How to Play:

• Choose games that involve describing actions or making choices (e.g., “Guess Who?”).
• Encourage the child to articulate their thoughts and strategies.
• Discuss the rules and vocabulary of the game to reinforce language concepts.

10. Emotion Charades

Activity: Use charades to express and identify emotions.
How to Play:

• Write down different emotions on cards (happy, sad, surprised).
• The child picks a card and acts out the emotion while you guess.
• Discuss scenarios where they might feel that way to practice expressive language and social understanding.