Current Research & Trends in DLD

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the definition, research statistics, predictors, and diagnostic criteria for Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) based on the lecture notes.

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

Enduring low language abilities with a significant functional impact, in the absence of biomedical conditions in which language impairment is part of a complex of impairments.

Danish Blood Donor Study (DBDS)

A study involving $N = 46,547$ individuals used to estimate the prevalence of DLD and its links to reading difficulties, learning difficulties, and physical and mental health.

Early Predictors of DLD

Delay in gesture production, receptive and/or expressive vocabulary, syntactic comprehension, or word combination up to 30 months.

Major Risk Factor for DLD

A family history of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

Secondary Risk Factors for DLD

Low socioeconomic status and environmental input, which are reported to have lower predictive power than family history.

Optimal Screening Age

The suggested time for screening children for DLD is between age 2 and 3.

Optimal Diagnosis Age

The suggested time for the diagnosis of DLD is around age 4.

Diagnostic Accuracy Recommendation

The joint use of standardized and psycholinguistic measures to address the high variability of sensitivity and specificity values.

Dyslexia Reading Profile

Characterized by deficits in decoding but having oral language skills within the normal range, leading to mild reading comprehension difficulties ($d = 0.51$ to $d = 0.60$ at age 8).

DLD Reading Profile

Characterized by weak oral language skills despite decoding skills being in the normal range, leading to significant reading comprehension difficulties ($d = 1.56$ at ages 8 and 9).

Comorbid Dyslexia + DLD

A condition where a child has deficits in both decoding and oral language, leading to the most severe reading comprehension problems ($d = 1.79$ at age 8 and $d = 2.06$ at age 9).

Decoding vs. Oral Language Skills

The two components of reading comprehension; dyslexia is linked to weak decoding, while DLD is linked to weak oral language skills.