The Talking DLD Podcast

Rachel Sievers is an independent speech language therapist based in the UK that has been proactively supporting a growing number of adults with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, Rachel talks us through assessing adults and the types of supports people with DLD need later in life.    You can access the resources discussed in this episode here: Supporting Adults with DLD - The DLD Project   Grow your skills with us & support people with DLD Module 1: Diagnosing DLD with Confidence. Learn more. Module 2: Evidence Based Interventions & Strategies for Children with DLD. Learn more. Module 3: Planning Therapy & Measuring Outcomes for people with DLD. Learn more. Module 4: DLD + Co-Occurring Conditions. Learn more. International DLD Research Conference Keynote Series. Learn more.  What is Language + What is DLD - FREE Course. Learn more.  

Each year, we are hearing from more people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) who are undertaking ongoing study post school. Eires, a person with DLD, Dyslexia and ADHD has recently completed her Masters to become a speech pathologist. In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, we explore her experiences at school and university and the many hurdles she has overcome to follow her dreams. In this episode, Eires, shares her recommendations for educators working with people with DLD and provides tips for families and people with DLD on how to navigate ongoing learning.   Listener note: This episode has some minor technical difficulties affecting audio quality that we were unable to fix during editing. We decided not to re-record the episode due to the amazing insights provided by Eires that we were worried we would lose if we did a redo. Enjoy.

Some people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) seem to have an exceptional talent for thinking out of the box and creating incredible artworks. Think animator Lily Farrington and author Shelbi Annison. We have had the privilege to collaborate with many talented people with DLD and our most recent work on RADLD's 2024 #DLDday campaign gave us the opportunity to meet Siouxsie and her mum Rachel, two vibrant women from the UK with a passion for raising awareness of DLD. Siouxsie created the awareness poster by hand stitching fabric, buttons and threads that were then photographed and turned into a digital poster that was distributed globally. The artwork was spectacular, and it got us thinking how can people with DLD tap into their passions. In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, we hear about Siouxsie's process and the things she does to unlock her creativity. Read more about Siouxsie and Rachel here: https://thedldproject.com/dld-creativity-with-siouxsie-rachel/  

Everyone is talking about the efficacy of Gestalt Language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition, so we thought we better have a look into what recent research is telling us. In this insightful episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, Professor Bronwyn Hemsley and Dr Caroline Bowen AM discuss their recent systematic review of interventions based on Gestalt Language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition (GLP/NLA): Clinical implications of absence of evidence and cautions for clinicians and parents. Resources Bryant, L., Bowen, C., Grove, R. Dixon, G., Beals, K., Shane, H., & Hemsley, B. (2024). Systematic review of interventions based on Gestalt Language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition (GLP/NLA): Clinical implications of absence of evidence and cautions for clinicians and parents. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 12, 1–14 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-024-00312-z The National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice The Autism CRE Australia Supporting Autistic Children Guideline The Communication Hub  

Did you know that it takes approximately 17 years for research to reach practice (Balas & Boren, 2000)? We call this the research-to-practice gap. The gap means that evidence-based practices do not get used as much as they should, and people with developmental language disorder (DLD) do not benefit from them. In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Rouzana Komesidou, an implementation scientist, consultant, and the founder of Mosinian Research & Consultancy, located in Cyprus to explore all things implementation science.   You can access the resources discussed in this episode here: https://thedldproject.com/implementation-science-and-dld/   Grow your skills with us & support people with DLD Module 1: Diagnosing DLD with Confidence. Learn more. Module 2: Evidence Based Interventions & Strategies for Children with DLD. Learn more. Module 3: Planning Therapy & Measuring Outcomes for people with DLD. Learn more. Module 4: DLD + Co-Occurring Conditions. Learn more. International DLD Research Conference Keynote Series. Learn more.  What is Language + What is DLD - FREE Course. Learn more.  

In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're joined by Dr Helen Stringer and Professor Yvonne Wren to discuss Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and Speech Sound Disorder (SSD), including where they overlap and where they are distinct. Find out more about this episode at our website.   Grow your skills with us & support people with DLD Module 1: Diagnosing DLD with Confidence. Learn more. Module 2: Evidence Based Interventions & Strategies for Children with DLD. Learn more. Module 3: Planning Therapy & Measuring Outcomes for people with DLD. Learn more. Module 4: DLD + Co-Occurring Conditions. Learn more. International DLD Research Conference Keynote Series. Learn more.  What is Language + What is DLD - FREE Course. Learn more.

In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're talking about the power of storytelling as a tool for language growth for children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) with Dr Trina Spencer and Dr Doug Petersen, developers of Story Champs, CUBED Narrative Assessment, and the Predictive Early Assessment of Reading and Language (PEARL) screener. Learn more about this episode here: Storytelling - The DLD Project

In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're joined by Erin Palmer who provides a unique perspective on life with DLD. Erin is a Speech Language Pathologist but most importantly, she is the mother of a child with DLD. Erin provides a raw account of what it is like to navigate DLD from the clinic to home in this revealing episode. Hear how she has juggled her professional experience with the need to be Mum in a world where neurodivergence is still far from being fully understood or widely accepted. Grow your skills with us & support people with DLD Module 1: Diagnosing DLD with Confidence. Learn more. Module 2: Evidence Based Interventions & Strategies for Children with DLD. Learn more. Module 3: Planning Therapy & Measuring Outcomes for people with DLD. Learn more. Module 4: DLD + Co-Occurring Conditions. Learn more. International DLD Research Conference Keynote Series. Learn more.  What is Language + What is DLD - FREE Course. Learn more.

Did you know that Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) can also co-occur with other disorders? Studies of children with DLD suggest some disorders co-occur more often. These include emotional problems, dyslexia and ADHD. “Comorbidity” refers to the presence of two or more disorders in the same person. These disorders can occur individually or link together. It takes a team of specialists to figure out if a person has DLD by itself or has additional disorders. In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, we're talking with Professor Sean M. Redmond about DLD & ADHD. If you'd like to learn more about DLD & ADHD join us for our NEW short course! More information here: https://thedldproject.com/course/dld-and-adhd/ About Professor Sean Redmond Professor Sean M. Redmond is a Fellow of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and Board-Certified Specialist in Child Language. Dr. Redmond received his PhD from the University of Kansas in 1998 and joined the faculty at the University of Utah shortly thereafter. He has over 40 peer-reviewed publications as well as book chapters on the topics of pediatric language disorders, socioemotional behavioral disorders, and differential diagnosis. His scholarship has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr Redmond has served as Editor in Chief for the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research and is a founding member of the website https://dldandme.org/ Grow your skills with us & support people with DLD Module 1: Diagnosing DLD with Confidence. Learn more. Module 2: Evidence Based Interventions & Strategies for Children with DLD. Learn more. Module 3: Planning Therapy & Measuring Outcomes for people with DLD. Learn more. Module 4: DLD + Co-Occurring Conditions. Learn more. International DLD Research Conference Keynote Series. Learn more.  What is Language + What is DLD - FREE Course. Learn more.

Watching a child struggle at school has to be one of the hardest things to witness. In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, we're joined by Professor Pamela Snow and Dr Charlotte Forwood who will help us understand how DLD affects academic achievement. You can find the resources for this episode at our website HERE. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW Course for Primary Teachers. Learn more here: https://thedldproject.com/course/supporting-primary-students-with-developmental-language-disorder-dld/ Grow your skills with us & support people with DLD Module 1: Diagnosing DLD with Confidence. Learn more. Module 2: Evidence Based Interventions & Strategies for Children with DLD. Learn more. Module 3: Planning Therapy & Measuring Outcomes for people with DLD. Learn more. Module 4: DLD + Co-Occurring Conditions. Learn more. International DLD Research Conference Keynote Series. Learn more.  What is Language + What is DLD - FREE Course. Learn more.

Have you ever wondered why children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) struggle to read? Children with DLD are at a higher risk of finding learning to read and spell more challenging than their peers who don't have DLD. This is because reading comprehension relies on listening comprehension, which is essentially understanding spoken language, an area we know people with DLD need support. In this episode we're joined by Alison Perry, Founder of Soundality Pty Ltd and a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP, Speech Pathology Australia). Together, we explore strategies to support people with DLD to learn to read using evidence-based approaches.  You can find the resources for this episode at our website HERE. Grow your skills with us & support people with DLD Module 1: Diagnosing DLD with Confidence. Learn more. Module 2: Evidence Based Interventions & Strategies for Children with DLD. Learn more. Module 3: Planning Therapy & Measuring Outcomes for people with DLD. Learn more. Module 4: DLD + Co-Occurring Conditions. Learn more. International DLD Research Conference Keynote Series. Learn more. 

Have you ever wondered how a paediatrician can support a person with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we 're talking with Dr Tommy Tran, paediatrician and Co-Founder of Paeds in a Pod. Throughout the episode we discuss the level of awareness of DLD amongst paediatricians, how to find a suitable paediatrician and how a paediatrician can support a person with DLD to access Medicare and NDIS support.   Access the resources discussed in this episode and learn more about Dr Tran at our website HERE.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a young adult growing with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're joined by Shelbi Annison, author, social media content creator and a passionate advocate who has DLD. "I would love for other people to have my brain for the day. You can see what it's like cause it's very difficult putting it into words to other people. The supports not there," shared Shelbi. "We'll never grow out of it, there isn't a cure. Some days I might be like I wish there was or I wish I could grow out of it but I'm happy with it as well." Shelbi, recently authored her first book, 'DLD Why Can't You See Me' for children. You can purchase a copy of DLD Why Can You See Me on AMAZON - CLICK HERE. You can also follow Shelbi on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

We're proud to be releasing this important episode of The Talking DLD Podcast in time for Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day #DLDday 2022. This years theme is 'Growing with DLD' and one young woman who truly highlights the potential of people with DLD is our special guest Juliana Hirn, Ed.S., CCC-SLP, a licensed speech-language pathologist and adult with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Join Shaun and Juliana as they track Juliana's journey to become an accomplished speech language pathologist and share insights that only a person with DLD who is also an SLP can observe. There are lessons for clinicians, families and educators in this incredible episode. 

Do you use practice based evidence in your clinical work? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, we're talking with Celine & Rosie from Western Sydney Speech Pathology about therapy planning and how to build practice based evidence into your work.   Find the resources discussed in this episode here: https://thedldproject.com/dld-clinical-work/

Can you improve your working memory? Why is working memory so important for people with Developmental Language Disorder? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're tackling these questions and many more with Dr. Lisa Archibald, Associate Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at The University of Western Ontario. Access the resources mentioned in this episode HERE.

Have you ever wondered about the role genetics play in a person being diagnosed with DLD? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're delving into the complex world of genetics with Professor Angela Morgan, a speech pathologist with more than 25 years experience who leads the Speech and Language group at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute plus the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Speech and Language.

We often talk about how Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects children but what about adults? DLD is a hidden, lifelong condition but unfortunately, we hear some decision makers are getting hung up on the term 'Developmental' and are failing to recognise the lifetime impact of DLD across the lifespan. In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, we're speaking with Sophie Franks, a dedicated RADLD Ambassador and adult with DLD. Tune in to hear Sophie's story and how DLD continues to impact her everyday life as an adult. Find the links mentioned in this episode at our website here: https://thedldproject.com/dld-adulthood-with-sophie-franks/

Report writing is a complex business! In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're delving into what makes a report truly accessible with Harmony Turnbull, researcher and Senior Speech and Language Pathologist at the Department of Education, Tasmania. More specifically, we discuss what health professionals can do to make reports more likely to be understood and used. Harmony is a PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and she is currently conducting research into allied health reports. Her research includes discussions with people that have lifelong disability about the reports they get from people such as psychologists, physios, OTs and speech pathologists. Harmony would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of lutruita (Tasmania) where she lives and works. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.' See the resources from this month's episode here: Teach-back Questions to ask your speech pathologist  Harmony's Research Blog  

What do you know about language assessments? Perhaps you're a DLD individual looking to have a language assessment completed or you have a loved one who has been recommended for a language assessment. In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're speaking language assessments with Associate Professor Natalie Munro from The University of Sydney and Associate Professor Marleen Westerveld, Griffith Institute for Educational Research. Together, they will combine their extensive experience as speech pathologists to help you understand what happens in a language assessment, why they are important and how you can prepare to make the most of your session.   Find the resources discussed in this episode here: Language Assessments & DLD - The DLD Project

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Autism and DLD? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're talking with special guest Professor Andrew Whitehouse, the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at Telethon Kids and University of Western Australia. Professor Whitehouse was also a member of the CATALISE consortium that recommended the use of the term Developmental Language Disorder or DLD.  

A common question we hear from families is "how do we tell our child they have Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?". Great question! In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're speaking with Anna Sowerbutts and Amanda Finer, authors of the book DLD and Me: Supporting Children and Young People with Developmental Language Disorder. Topics covered include: When is a 'good' time to communicate a DLD Diagnosis Understanding the impact DLD can have on other areas of a person's life What families and clinicians might think about when preparing for these conversations How families can support their person with DLD to grow their own confidence and self-efficacy around their diagnosis Recommendations for clinicians who are supporting families having these initial and ongoing conversations Find the links to the resources discussed in this episode here: https://thedldproject.com/talking-about-dld-with-your-child/

Will every person diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) struggle with their mental health? How do you support a loved one with mental health challenges? What do health professionals and educators need to know about working with people with DLD who also have mental health issues? In this very practical episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we are talking Developmental Language Disorder and mental health with Melanie Cross, speech and language therapist, and author of ‘Children with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties and Communication Problems' (JKP 2011), 2nd edition. See the links to resources discussed in this episode here

Can a student's vocabulary impact on their ability to learn? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we are talking vocabulary. Our special guests are Stephen Parsons & Anna Branagan, Speech and Language Therapists, trainers and co-authors of resources ‘Language for Thinking', ‘Word Aware' (primary and Early Years) and ‘Language for Behaviour and Emotions.'  Tune into Vocabulary & DLD | Episode 5 Season 2 of The Talking DLD Podcast to hear classroom strategies for increasing learning and what families can do at home to help students with DLD grow their vocabulary. To learn more about DLD head to thedldproject.com.  

In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we are tackling the big one - Dosage and Frequency of Language Therapy for children with DLD.  Our special guest is Professor Laura Justice, speech pathologist and EHE Distinguished Professor, Department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University. Laura is well known and respected for her research into language therapy. "We don't need to see kids 3 to 5 times a week. We just need to be fiercely productive when we are with the kids." Professor Laura Justice.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to have DLD? Our special guest for this episode is 15-year-old Parker, a talented photographer (PHL Photos) from Brisbane, Australia.   Over this short 15-minute podcast Parker will share his insights into living a proactive life with DLD, how educators can best support people with DLD in the classroom, and how families should talk with their children about DLD.   Thank you Parker for sharing your experiences with us. We can't wait to see what you do next!   Support Parkers photography here ==> https://phlphotos.com.au/

Should Australia introduce universal screening for Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) ? How common is dyslexia co-occurring alongside DLD? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast we're talking language screening with special guest Dr.Tiffany P. Hogan, PhD CCC-SLP, Director of the Speech and Language (SAiL) Literacy Lab and Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. In this episode Tiffany will: talk about language screening practices in the US for DLD discuss the implications of introducing mass language screening on service delivery explain the connection between dyslexia and DLD About DR Hogan Dr. Hogan studies the genetic, neurologic, and behavioral links between oral and written language development, with a focus on implementation science for improving assessment and intervention for young children with speech, language and/or literacy impairments. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and the Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.  Dr. Hogan teaches online graduate courses in literacy assessment and intervention and leading literacy change. She is an advocate for children with communication disorders including Developmental Language Disorders, Dyslexia, and Speech Sound Disorders.   She is co-founder of the DLD informational website: www.dldandme.org, she hosts a podcast, SeeHearSpeak Podcast (www.seehearspeakpodcast.com), and she is an elected board member for the Society for the Scientific Studies of Reading.  Her career achievements have been acknowledged through receipt of numerous awards and fellowships including an Award for Early Career Contributions in Research and Lifetime Fellow bestowed by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and a Faculty Excellence in Research Award from the MGH Institute. Find her on twitter (@tiffanyphogan), Facebook (sailliteracylab), Instagram (@seehearspeakpodcast) or the web (www.mghihp.edu/sail).  Resources Discussed in the Podcast Tools chart: https://charts.intensiveintervention.org/ascreening List of DLD screeners: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1o5U6QSztiJb0qE_a0wjzPeWg7_816GmquEagQi0XPpo/edit Translational science paper: https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/rrq.357 DLD & dyslexia paper: https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2018_LSHSS-DYSLC-18-0049 Special journal issue on dyslexia for SLPs: https://academy.pubs.asha.org/2018/10/lshss-clinical-forum-what-slps-need-to-know-about-dyslexia/ Five ways speech-language pathologists can positively impact children with dyslexia: https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2018_LSHSS-DYSLC-18-0102 SSDs and dyslexia: https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2018_LSHSS-DYSLC-18-0008 Argument for screening language in schools:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2372732219839075 Shortened argument for language screeners: https://dldandme.org/school-language-screening/ Paper on efficacy of classroom-based language stimulation program: Early ID of reading paper: https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=671218 Prevention of dyslexia paper: https://www.thereadingleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/TRLJ-Table-of-Contents-January-2021.pdf    

Grammar therapy intervention. How do you do it and why is it particularly effective when working with children with DLD? In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast our special guest is Dr Samuel Calder, speech pathologist and academic from Curtin University, Perth who is investigating grammar intervention using shape coding.  Shape coding utilises colours and shapes to help kids learn  how words fit together. This can be very helpful for children with DLD. In this episode Dr Calder will: share how going from learning language to language for learning can be a real challenge for kids with Developmental Language Disorder provide examples of the signs of grammar challenges in children and how they can be strongly linked to DLD discuss the findings of his research and give practical guidance on how therapists, educators and families can apply the learnings in their work, at school or home You can find out more about Dr Calder's work at the Language and Literacy in Young People website. Sam has also kindly provided his email address in case you have trouble accessing anything (e.g., articles) or have any questions: samuel.calder@postgrad.curtin.edu.au   RESOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE PODCAST Combining implicit and explicit intervention approaches to target grammar in young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Read the publication here. Explicit Grammar Intervention in Young School-Aged Children With Developmental Language Disorder: An Efficacy Study Using Single-Case Experimental Design. Read the publication here. The Efficacy of an Explicit Intervention Approach to Improve Past Tense Marking for Early School-Age Children With Developmental Language Disorder. Read more here. The SHAPE CODINGTM system was designed by Speech & Language Therapist Dr Susan Ebbels at Moor House School & College to teach spoken and written grammar to school-aged children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Read more here.

In Episode 5 of The Talking DLD Podcast we speak with Nadia, Mum to two boys with DLD from Western Australia. Nadia has successfully supported her children to gain access to the NDIS. Throughout the podcast Nadia will discuss: The types of information she included with her application The professional help she tapped into to help complete her application The examples she gave to demonstrate the 'functional impacts' DLD was having on her family The step by step process from application to utilising funding

Does speaking more than one language cause DLD?   This is a question we often hear from families who speak two or more languages at home.   The short answer is NO. DLD affects people who speak only one language AND people who speak two or more languages.   In fact, being multilingual may actually be beneficial!   In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, Emily Hunt, speech pathologist and PhD candidate at Edith Cowan University talks to us about her work investigating the diagnosis of children with DLD who speak 2 or more languages.

In this episode of The Talking DLD Podcast, Shaun speaks with Erin West, NDIS & Practice Advisor for Speech Pathology Australia.   Throughout the podcast they discuss:  

Join The DLD Project Co-Founder and Speech Pathologist, Shaun Ziegenfusz, as he speaks with Professor Sheena Reilly AM, about the changing face of DLD in Australia. Sheena is Pro-Vice Chancellor (Health) at Griffith University and an esteemed researcher and thought leader in DLD. Sheena was recently awarded a Member of the Order of Australia. This is much-deserved acknowledgment of her 30+ years contributing extensively towards understanding speech, language, and literacy development in children, with more than 200 publications under her name. We can't wait for you to hear the meaningful insights into DLD diagnosis and support that Prof. Reilly provides in Episode 2 of The Talking DLD Podcast!

Join The DLD Project Co-Founder and Speech Pathologist, Shaun Ziegenfusz, as he speaks with Belinda Peters, parent of a child with DLD and Founder of the DLD Australia Facebook group. Throughout this inspiring conversation, you'll hear about Belinda's long journey to a DLD diagnosis for her son and discover some of the positives that come from being a parent of a child with DLD.   To access evidence-based information, resources, and training head to thedldproject.com. Coming soon!