DLD in the Early Years with Michelle Pheonix

Episode 3: Developmental Language Disorder in the Early YearsIn this episode of The Social Learning Road Trip, hosts Tara Ross and Kristen Smith welcome Dr. Michelle Phoenix, child scientist and assistant professor in the Speech‑Language Pathology program at McMaster University, for an in‑depth conversation about Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in the early years. Drawing on her experience as both a researcher and a clinician, Dr. Phoenix explains why concerns often first arise around speech sounds, vocabulary, or social interaction—and why some early language difficulties can be harder to spot than others. The discussion explores why DLD is not always formally identified prior to school entry, including the challenges of distinguishing late talkers from children with persistent language difficulties.The episode also highlights what families and educators can do before a diagnosis is in place. Dr. Phoenix shares practical, evidence‑informed strategies to support young children’s language development, emphasizing the role of shared book‑reading, everyday conversation, predictable routines, and narrating daily activities. These approaches benefit all children, whether or not they go on to receive a DLD diagnosis, and reinforce the importance of collaboration between families and professionals in supporting communication development from the earliest years.