Never_stop_learning

Friday 17th October is International Day!

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a hidden but common lifelong disability that affects 1 in 14 people. It causes difficulties understanding and using language for no known reason — and because you can’t see DLD, its impact is often overlooked in classrooms, workplaces, communities, and even within families.

The 2025 DLD Day theme, "You Can’t See DLD", calls on everyone to speak up for the invisible needs of people with DLD — especially in schools and workplaces, where spoken language is central to participation and success.

DLD often leads to reduced access to education, challenges with employment, and social isolation. Despite being a relatively unknown condition, its hidden nature can have very visible consequences. People with DLD are six times more likely to experience anxiety and three times more likely to experience clinical depression. They are also at greater risk of difficulties with reading, writing, and maths — all of which affect educational outcomes and lifelong opportunities.