The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service is supporting the Global Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) awareness day on Friday 15th October.  Locations across the world will be lighting up famous landmarks in purple and yellow to help promote awareness of DLD. 

Did you know? 7% of the population in Leeds (54,600 people) will have the hidden but common disability Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).  A large proportion of the general public have not heard of DLD despite the fact that it is very common. Approximately 2 children in every class have DLD.  DLD is often described as a hidden disability and it affects a child’s understanding of language and spoken language skills which can then impact on the child’s learning, reading and writing, forming and maintaining friendships and emotional well-being.  Later in life it can affect a young person’s or adult’s mental health and employability.  However with the right support and access to specialist services children and young people with DLD can reach their true potential.

Take the DLD quiz to find out more https://radld.org/about/dld/dld-quiz/ and please see the following links https://radld.org/about/dld/ There is an award winning DLD You Tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ-s02HWLb0.  If you have concerns about your child’s speech, language and communication skills please also see the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service, Leeds Community Healthcare website https://www.leedscommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services-a-z/child-speech-and-language-therapy/.