Difficulty with language

What is Developmental Language Disorder and how does it affect the way we think?

Some children have a long-term difficulty with talking and/or understanding words. This can make it more difficult for them to:

pay attention to others and listen to what they say
follow instructions or answer questions
make friends and have good conversations
express their ideas well

If these things are having a big impact on their everyday life, for instance, how well they do at school, and if they cannot be explained by another condition, such as hearing impairment or autism, these children may be diagnosed with a condition called Developmental Language Disorder. This name is often shortened to ‘DLD’.

We’re still not sure what causes DLD, but we know it affects about two children in every classroom in primary school.

Given how important language is to understanding others' minds, we asked whether - and how - having DLD can change the way you think or interact with others.

WHAT WE FOUND

EMOTION + FACES

Children with DLD often find it difficult to recognise which emotion someone else is feeling based on their facial expression. It is especially difficult when the emotion is a 'complex' emotion, (e.g., surprise or disgust) rather than a simple emotion (e.g. happy or sad).

EMOTION + VOICES

Children with DLD also find it difficult to recognise which emotion someone else is feeling based on what they sound like in their voice. This was even harder than recognising emotion from their face.

EMOTION + EMPATHY

Children with DLD also gave lower scores on measures of empathy compared to children the same age who did not have DLD. However, it's important to remember that this does not mean they are less empathetic. It is more likely that these children do not recognise the need to empathise as easily because they struggle to recognise another's emotion, from either their face or their voice.