What Is DLD—and Why Don’t More Parents Know About It?

Imagine your child is bright, social, and curious—but struggles to follow instructions, tell a story, or understand classroom lessons. You might assume it’s a learning issue or attention problem. But for many children, the root cause is a condition few parents have even heard of: Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

At Speech Therapy Centre of Canada, we believe in raising awareness of this often-overlooked diagnosis so more children can get the support they need.

What Is Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?

DLD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how children understand and use language. It is not caused by hearing loss, intellectual disability, or autism—but it can make communication, learning, and socializing much harder.

DLD is surprisingly common, affecting about 1 in 14 school-aged children—yet many go undiagnosed for years.

Signs of DLD in Children

The signs of DLD vary, but common challenges include:

• Difficulty understanding spoken instructions or questions
• Trouble finding the right words or forming sentence
• Short or vague answers (“That thing… you know…”
• Grammatical errors (“Him goed to the store”)
• Struggling to tell a clear story or explain something
• Difficulty learning new words or using them correctly
• Trouble following classroom conversations or lessons
• Avoidance of speaking in groups or public settings
  

These children are often bright and motivated, but their language disorder can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and academic struggles.

How Is DLD Different from Other Language Delays?

• It is not linked to low intelligence
• It often persists into adolescence and adulthood
• Children with DLD may appear “quirky” or “distracted”
• It is not caused by poor parenting, bilingualism, or laziness
  

Unlike speech sound disorders (which affect pronunciation), DLD affects the structure, comprehension, and function of language itself.

How We Diagnose DLD at Our Clinic

At Speech Therapy Centre of Canada, our licensed SLPs conduct a thorough language assessment, which may include:

• Receptive language testing (understanding)
• Expressive language evaluation (speaking)
• Vocabulary and grammar usage
• Storytelling and sequencing tasks
• Auditory memory and following instructions
• Academic language support needs
  

We also collaborate with teachers and other professionals when needed.

How Speech Therapy Helps Children with DLD

While DLD is a lifelong condition, early intervention can make a powerful difference. Our therapy focuses on:

✅ Building core vocabulary and sentence structure
✅ Improving comprehension strategies
✅ Teaching language organization for storytelling and writing
✅ Strengthening listening and memory skills
✅ Supporting classroom participation and confidence

What Parents Can Do at Home

• Use clear, simple language and repeat instructions
• Give your child time to respond without pressure
• Read together and ask open-ended questions
• Break tasks into small steps
• Celebrate communication victories, even small ones
• Advocate for school accommodations or IEP support
  

Why Choose Speech Therapy Centre of Canada

We specialize in identifying and supporting complex language challenges like DLD. Our team is trained to recognize subtle signs and create customized therapy plans that work at home, at school, and in life.

We offer:

✅ In-depth language assessments
✅ Individualized therapy for school-age children
✅ Parent coaching and school collaboration
✅ Virtual and in-person sessions across Ontario
✅ Compassionate care that builds skills and self-esteemtive

Book a Consultation Today

🏥 Locations: Richmond Hill & Ajax
💻 Virtual Speech Therapy: Available across Ontario
📞 Phone: 905‑886‑5941
📧 Email: info@speechtherapycentres.com
🌐 Website: speechtherapycentres.com

Let’s give your child the tools to express themselves with confidence. Book your first appointment today.

The Speech Therapy Centres of Canada is a team of dedicated speech-language pathologists (commonly known as S-LPs or speech therapists) and speech-language pathology assistants (S-LPAs)  who provide assessment and therapy services to children and adults with communication disorders.  Our S-LPS, S-LPAs and support staff are truly committed to providing the highest quality of service to our clients and their families. We understand that navigating the world of speech therapy may be daunting so our client services team is prepared to help you every step of the way.