1/ Recently, in another forum, someone asked “what made you feel competent to start a blog?” I can’t find the post, but I remember there being plenty of responses. Someone noted “I wanted to answer the questions I had when I first started”. And it set fireworks off in my brain.

2/ You see, I had also really recently had a conversation about DLD, and the momentum of interest that is building. It prompted me to go back, and look at all the questions I had when I first started being interested in the area. I asked, and asked, and asked.

3/ I don’t know whether my questions were too big (it would take too much time building my background knowledge to respond efficiently) or too small (this isn’t an area of tidy little boxes). But the answers weren’t always forthcoming.

4/ The thing is, I went back and looked at my questions...and I can answer most of them now. So, why not? If you’re beginning this journey, you might have some of the same questions I did. I hope my answers help you. If you’re an expert, please feel free to confirm or refine :)

5/ Q1: How do you know if it is a delay or disorder (until you’ve intervened and seen how the child responds)?

6/ A1: we don’t use the term ‘delay’ anymore. The term ‘language difficulty’ or ‘language disorder’ are more apt. And, often we don’t know! Part of the diagnosis is understanding response-to-intervention - you might reserve use of the term DLD until after you do some intervention

7/ Q2: how do you know if DLD is due to an underlying condition?

8/ A2: You don’t, always. But also, language disorders aren’t DUE to underlying conditions, just associated with them. If you think an associated condition is playing a role, you can give a ‘provisional diagnosis’ and recommend assessment by another professional.

9/ Q3: I thought verbal IQ and receptive language were pretty tied. Are they not? How do you have typical IQ and not understand language to the level you should?

10/ A3: this one is still dicey for me! My understanding is that verbal IQ and receptive language ARE pretty tied; however kids that have language disorders can have high non-verbal IQs (or not). What we know is: whether NVIQ is high or low, language skills drive the intervention

11/ AND language assessment should inform psychological assessment (if a language disorder is present, a psychological assessment should be weighted more towards non-verbal skills).

12/ Q4: people keep alluding to an “SLI profile”...but I don’t know what that is?
A4: difficulties with: non-word repetition, tense marking, and sentence repetition

13/Q5: Doesn’t parenting play a role? If you can support language through parent coaching, surely it played a role?

A5: actually, no. This blog post by Dorothy Bishop is my go-to: http://deevybee.blogspot.com/2014/02/parent-talk-and-child-language.html

14/ Basically, language can thrive on limited input. The reason we see children making gains when we introduce therapy and/or parent coaching is because those kids needed MORE. Their parents need to go above and beyond in a way that’s not expected - and they need help to do that

15/ Q6: how do you know if the child will/not respond to therapy?
A6: I think, sometimes you know and sometimes you don’t. If you’re not sure, hold off on a diagnosis until you can collect some data on response-to-intervention.

16/ Q7: am I right in thinking language scores on a standardised test need to be 1.5 standard deviations below the mean?

17/ A7: this number is oft-quoted. But, I honestly think we’re still coming into realisation of what DLD is. This webinar on DLD as a spectrum disorder is serious food for thought: https://fb.watch/3E3dVh0ah3/ 

18/ Q8: do I need a label? Can’t I just describe strengths and needs and provide support from there?

A8: you could. But a label is handy for a number of reasons. You are easily able to direct stakeholders to information.

19/ It brings an acknowledgement that this is a lifelong condition, where support can and should be provided (but that support will never ‘fix’ the condition). Along with that comes a recognition that part of the support should be self-advocacy skills.

20/ Please add to this Q&A! If you had questions you can now answer, share! If you have questions you’d like answered, ask!

21/ I also need to acknowledge that content in existing websites has grown immensely, and new websites have popped up since my journey with DLD began.

22/ You can and should read everything at: http://RADLD.org , http://DLDandMe.org , http://theDLDproject.com  and The DLD Toolbox ( https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/lwm/news/2020/index.html). If you know of any other sites dedicated to DLD, please leave a link!