DLD and dyslexia are two neurodevelopmental conditions that significantly impact an individual’s ability to use language effectively. However, they are different conditions with different aetiologies that can frequently co-occur.
The key difference between DLD and dyslexia is their characteristics. DLD is mainly characterized by difficulties in understanding or using spoken language, while dyslexia mainly affects reading acquisition.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is DLD
3. What is Dyslexia
4. Similarities – DLD and Dyslexia
5. DLD vs Dyslexia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – DLD vs Dyslexia
7. FAQ – DLD and Dyslexia
What is DLD?
DLD (developmental language disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that influences language comprehension that persists over time. This condition is not attributed to other developmental disabilities, sensory impairments, or neurological conditions. People with this condition have problems in vocabulary development, grammar, and comprehension, leading to challenges in communication and academic achievement. Moreover, DLD can be caused by genetic mutations and environmental conditions.
DLD is usually diagnosed through questionnaires, verbal tests, vision and hearing tests. Furthermore, treatment option for DLD may include proper education plan, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioural therapy.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is known as world blindness. It is a learning disorder that involves difficulty in reading and language-related tasks. Dyslexia can be caused by genetic mutations, differences in brain development and function, and disruption in brain development and function. Moreover, the symptoms of this condition may include difficulty spelling simple words, trouble learning the names of letters, trouble rhyming, reluctance to read loud in class, trouble sounding out new words, trouble learning how sounds go together, and mixing up the position of the sounds in a word.
Dyslexia is usually diagnosed through signs and symptoms evaluation, tests for oral language skills, reading fluency, comprehension, spelling, vocabulary and word recognition. Furthermore, currently, there are no medications to treat dyslexia. However, educational interventions can teach effective new ways to learn and read.
Similarities Between DLD and Dyslexia
- DLD and dyslexia are two neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Both these conditions can co-occur.
- Both these conditions can be caused by genetic mutations.
- Both significantly impact an individual’s ability to use language effectively.
- There are no proper treatments for both of these conditions.
Difference Between DLD and Dyslexia
Definition
- DLD is a condition that interferes with learning, understanding, and using language.
- Dyslexia is a condition that involves difficulty in reading and language-related tasks.
Causes
- DLD can be caused by genetic mutations and environmental conditions.
- Dyslexia can be caused by genetic mutations, differences in brain development and function, and disruption in brain development and function.
Signs and Symptoms
- The signs and symptoms of DLD may include difficulty in answering questions, being comfortable in social situations, expressing ideas, finding the right words, following directions, holding the attention, learning new words, relating to peers and telling stories in the organized way.
- The signs and symptoms of dyslexia may include difficulty reading, including reading aloud, slow and labor-intensive reading and writing, problems in spelling, avoiding activities that involve reading, spending an unusually long time to complete tasks that involve reading or writing, difficulty in summarizing stories, trouble learning a foreign language and difficulty doing math word problems.
Diagnosis
- DLD is diagnosed through questionnaires, interviewing parents or guardians, verbal tests, and vision and hearing tests.
- Dyslexia is diagnosed signs and symptoms evaluation, tests for oral language skills, reading fluency and read comprehension, spelling, vocabulary and word recognition.
Treatments
- Treatment options for DLD may include an individualized education plan (IEP), in school therapy (speech, physical, occupational and behavioural) and personal aide.
- Treatment options for dyslexia may include educational intervention to teach effective new ways to learn and read.
The following table summarizes the difference between DLD and dyslexia.
Summary – DLD vs Dyslexia
Neurodevelopmental conditions affect the development of the nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. DLD and dyslexia are two neurodevelopmental conditions. DLD is a condition that influences language comprehension, while dyslexia is a condition that influences word reading. This summarizes the difference between DLD and dyslexia.
FAQ: DLD and Dyslexia
1. What are the symptoms of DLD?
- The symptoms of DLD include difficulty finding the right words, difficulty understanding figurative language, limited use of complex sentences, reading problems, disorganized storytelling and writing, and frequent grammatical and spelling errors.
2. At what age is DLD diagnosed?
- Speech pathologists may not officially diagnose DLD before 5 years of age. This is because language can change a lot in the first 5 years of life. Some children who have difficulties at 2 might be doing well by 5, while others may still need support.
3. What is the treatment for DLD?
- Speech and language therapy can help people who suffer from DLD in order to develop their language abilities to their maximum potential. Moreover, speech language therapy will teach strategies to the child and those around them to reduce the effects of their communication difficulties.
4. What is the main cause of dyslexia?
- Dyslexia can be genetic, and research has suggested that a number of inherited gene mutations may predispose someone to develop this brain disorder. Other risk factors for this condition include low birth weight, being born premature, and exposure to substances during gestation that affect brain development.
5. What is the best treatment for dyslexia?
- There are no proper medications for dyslexia. However, the treatment of dyslexia is based on two main strategies: specific assistance with the impaired learning areas, such as reading and spelling, and psychotherapy for any coexisting psychological disturbance.
Reference:
1. “Dyslexia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): A Hidden Condition.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Dyslexia” By Scientific Animations (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Impairment overlaps” By ResearchGate – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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