Supporting Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Language is an important tool for managing how we feel in different situations. We use language to discuss our feelings with others. A lot of Mental Health therapies are “talk” based therapies.
What can we do if a young person has not developed language as expected and does not have the words to discuss their feelings? With about 7.5% of children having Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), the likelihood of you knowing or teaching someone with language difficulties is high. There are a few things to understand first:
Children with DLD are more likely to have delays in social and emotional development
Children with DLD are more likely to have difficulty identifying and explaining the emotions of others
Not all children with DLD will have poorer mental health outcomes. Other factors, such as family history and cooccurring conditions, also contribute to mental health outcomes.
Here's some encouraging news: There’s a minimum threshold of language proficiency, beyond which having more words and more complex sentences isn’t necessarily linked to better mental health. This means that even small improvements in a child's language skills can have a significant positive impact on their emotional well-being.
This wonderful video provides a snapshot of some research outcomes from the UK-based Scales study around DLD and Mental Health. The video includes some comments from children with lived experience of DLD and its impacts on their mental health. As we strive to be human-affirming, it’s an excellent idea to hear and amplify the voices of the population you are working with. The lived experience POV is powerful!
So, what can we do to support the mental health of children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) or other communication needs? Here are some practical strategies that can make a significant difference in their lives.
Understand the link between language skills, social-emotional development and mental health. Alert your child’s care team and encourage the supportive team around your child to monitor your child’s mental health. Remember, it takes a village.
Work with Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists to build language and social-emotional skills.
Think about emotions as energy in motion within our bodies. There are many ways for this energy to flow through us and be released rather than stored and suppressed. It’s not always about ‘talking therapies’. Art therapy, dance and movement, music therapy, play therapy and connecting with nature can all be ways that we allow energy in motion to work its way up and out of our bodies.
If you are a Mental Health provider offering talk-based therapies to children and young people, contact their speech pathologist for tips on communicating effectively with your young client. It’s important to tailor your therapy to meet the needs of these vulnerable children.
Orygen and Speech Pathology Australia created two free webinars on adapting Mental Health care to meet the needs of children and young people with communication needs here.
Quick tips for Mental Health providers
Slow down your rate of speech
Avoid jargon and technical terms. Use plain simple language
Repeat key things several times in different ways
Use sketches, pictures and visual supports to support comprehension. This video provides some great examples of using cause-and-effect visuals to support problem-solving.
Stop frequently and ask the young person to repeat what you said in their own words.
Allow for silences. Your young client might need processing time before they speak. Learning to lean into the pauses can be so rewarding.
Link emotion words to body sensations and simple terms eg “anxious” might be linked to or better explained as “feeling sick in the tummy”
Work together to build up your client’s emotional vocabulary. You might collaborate on phrases they can use to alert others about their mental health or to describe their state. Rehearse these phrases and scripts together and, with consent, share this list with family and friends so they can be aware.
Acknowledging the critical role of language in managing emotions and behaviours helps create a supportive environment for children with DLD and other communication needs.