DLD: The 'Invisible' Language Disorder in Children

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is an 'invisible' disorder affecting 7-10% of school-aged children. It is often misinterpreted as laziness or immaturity.

Children with DLD may appear to communicate normally but struggle with complex language content. DLD hinders language learning and use without an obvious cause.

Signs of DLD: Difficulty understanding long sentences, short sentences, difficulty describing events. In older children, difficulty understanding texts and learning new vocabulary is observed.

Differentiation from other disorders: Dyslexia affects reading and writing, while DLD affects understanding. Unlike autism, DLD does not affect social skills.

Treatment: Early diagnosis and specialized support, speech therapy, use of visual aids, and school adjustments.

Parents and teachers can help by encouraging reading and giving examples of correct sentences.

Diagnosis requires professional evaluation by speech therapists or linguists.

Source: in.gr