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Child with DLD Finds Her Voice After Years of Struggle
16 Oct
Summary
- DLD affects two children in every primary school classroom.
- Children with DLD may struggle to articulate ideas and understand others.
- Therapy and learning enabled a 12-year-old to speak publicly.
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects an estimated two out of every primary school classroom. Children with DLD, formerly known as specific language impairment, may possess many ideas but struggle to articulate them or comprehend spoken language. These language difficulties can also manifest as anxiety or disruptive classroom behavior.
Ridley, who was diagnosed with DLD at age five with symptoms appearing earlier, experienced challenges with word retrieval. Her mother, Chrissa, noticed these speech differences from a young age, noting Ridley's struggles with social interactions and transitions. Despite initial thoughts of autism, her family pursued a DLD diagnosis.
After extensive speech and language therapy and focused English learning, Ridley, now 12, has made remarkable progress. Her mother shared pride in Ridley's transformation from a child struggling to form words to confidently speaking at a DLD awareness event hosted by Sunshine Support. This public speaking engagement marked a significant milestone, demonstrating Ridley's courage and the effectiveness of sustained support.
