What is Developmental Language Disorder(DLD) and Why Does it Matter with Lisa Archibald

Season 2 of The Social Learning Road Trip begins with a foundational conversation about Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Hosts Tara Ross and Kristen Smith, Speech‑Language Pathologists with the Upper Grand District School Board, welcome internationally recognized researcher Dr. Lisa Archibald, Professor and Director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University. Dr. Archibald is a key contributor to the landmark CATALISE consensus work and a long‑time advocate for raising awareness of DLD in Canada and internationally.In this episode, Dr. Archibald helps define what developmental language disorder is—a persistent difficulty learning and using language that significantly impacts everyday interactions or educational progress and is not explained by another biomedical condition. She discusses what is currently known (and not yet known) about the causes of DLD, highlighting its multifactorial nature, and shares research on prevalence, noting that approximately 7% of children—about two in every classroom—have DLD, making it more common than autism and as prevalent as dyslexia.The conversation also explores why DLD is so often misunderstood or overlooked, how it can present differently across children and change over time as language demands increase, and why consistent use of the term Developmental Language Disorder matters. Dr. Archibald explains how shared terminology builds community, strengthens advocacy, informs research, and improves systems‑level support for children, families, and educators. This episode sets the stage for the season by underscoring why language is foundational to learning—and why increasing awareness of DLD is essential.