Developmental Language Disorder – DLD Awareness Day

Friday 15 October, 2021

Research shows that many children with trouble learning at school or communicating with others have an undiagnosed condition called Developmental Language Disorder- DLD.

As members of the Wellbeing Team, the Catholic Education Ballarat Speech Pathologists, have joined the campaign to raise awareness of DLD due to the ongoing need for collaboration between teachers, learning support officers, speech pathologists and families, to ensure students with DLD are appropriately supported to thrive in classrooms across our Diocese.

An Online Training (OLT) module to support identification and support to students with ‘Speech, Language and Communication Needs’ is available at no cost to CEB school staff, with tutoring throughout the course from CEB speech pathologists.

Further information about DLD can be found in the teacher kits from the RADLD website and through the upcoming CEB Learning Diversity Newsletter or by speaking with your local CEB speech pathologist.

On average 2 students in every class of 30 have the neurodevelopmental condition called Developmental Language Disorder or DLD.

Having DLD can make it hard for a person to explain their ideas, feelings and thinking and to learn. It also can make it hard to understand what others mean and to follow instructions in the classroom, when playing with mates and when listening to a coach during team sport.

Spoken language is the lifeblood of the classroom. It underpins all learning, relationships and mental health, from the very beginning to the very end of school. Most students thrive in this rich learning environment, but for some, listening and talking can be overwhelming.

Imagine trying to make a new friend, learning a new subject, or negotiating yourself out of a tough spot, if your ability to use or understand language was a life-long challenge.

Friday 15 October 2021 is DLD Awareness Day, and this year’s campaign is asking teachers to #ThinkLanguage #ThinkDLD. The goal is to increase the early identification of DLD and support for students at school.

People with DLD are 6 times more likely to suffer from anxiety and 3 times more likely to have clinical depression. They are also at significant risk of struggling with reading, spelling and mathematics. Although DLD is a common condition affecting many areas of life, children with DLD are unlikely to receive access to services.

Shelbi, young adult with DLD: “It wasn’t just a “delay” for me and I never “outgrew” or “caught up”. Just like many people; my DLD was never identified nor were my difficulties further investigated. DLD is a lifelong condition; early identification and support is key to supporting those with DLD to manage everyday life.”

Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder (RADLD) is an international organization working to grow awareness of DLD, a hidden but common condition.

One teacher can change a student’s life by spotting their challenges with language. RADLD is asking teachers to keep an eye out, and whenever they see a student struggling with learning, #ThinkLanguage #ThinkDLD.