The DLD Diagnostics Toolbox

  • DLD, Specific Learning Disorder, Specific Learning Disability: What's the difference?

    February 16, 2022
    SLPs/SaLTs and educational psychologists often use the terms Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Specific Learning Disorder, and Specific Learning Disability, among others. How do all of these terms relate to one another?

    Topics covered: DLD, Specific Learning Disorder, Specific Learning Disability

  • Identifying DLD in children under 5 years of age

    July 06, 2021
    A child under 5 years of age is found to have language difficulties with a significant impact on everyday interactions and no known biomedical condition. Are the language difficulties likely to persistent such that a diagnosis of DLD is warranted?

    Topics covered: DLD, language difficulties, risk factors, malleable factors, persistent, preschool

  • Co-occurring DLD or Language Disorder Associated with...?

    January 03, 2021
    A child with an existing diagnosed condition is found to have a Language Disorder in the SLP/T assessment. Is the diagnosis of DLD or Language Disorder Associated with {biomedical condition} provided?

    Topics covered: DLD, Language Disorder associated with {biomedical condition}, differential diagnosis, differentiating condition, co-occurring condition

  • Introducing The DLD Diagnostics Toolbox

    June 25, 2020
    The purpose of this toolbox is to address questions related to the diagnosis of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). The intention is to summarize diagnostic issues for the international community of speech-language pathologists / speech and language therapists (or others) concerned with identifying DLD.

    Topics covered: Developmental Language Disorder, CATALISE

  • What should I write in my report?

    June 24, 2020
    You are a speech-language pathologist / therapist (SLP/T), you’ve completed an assessment of a child, and you’ve determined that the child has a Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). What are some of the key elements in reporting these findings?

    Topics covered: DLD, diagnostic statements, reports, diagnosis

  • Differential Diagnosis: DLD vs. Language Disorder Associated with {biomedical condition}

    June 23, 2020
    Differentiating DLD from Language Disorder associated with a {biomedical condition} can be challenging in situations where multidisciplinary team assessments are not available. Here I consider a way forward...

    Topics covered: DLD, Language Disorder associated with, biomedical condition, assessment

  • It’s not all about test scores, but …

    June 22, 2020
    As part of an assessment for Developmental Language Disorder, an SLP/T observes a child with low average scores on an omnibus standardized language test. Could this child still have DLD?

    Topics covered: DLD, standardized tests, low average, mild