Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Speech and Language Therapy Society students join campaign to raise awareness of Developmental Language Disorder
DLD is a condition affecting an individual’s ability to understand or to use language. It’s a severe and pervasive condition that can affect a person into adulthood, and this Friday marks the second annual International DLD Awareness Day.
Fatimah Bint-Hanif, vice president of the Leeds Beckett University SLT Society said: “DLD is significant on-going difficulty understanding, and/or using spoken language. It’s also a hidden disability, which means it is not immediately apparent.
“Identification of DLD is really important because individuals can then receive appropriate and timely support. Consequently, individuals with the disorder will have the tools to reach their full potential.
“I am really proud of the effort students and staff at Leeds Beckett University have made to raise awareness of DLD.”
DLD affects two to three children in every class but is a relatively unknown condition. By raising awareness of the condition, the SLT students and NHS specialists are hoping to improve understanding of the impact the disorder can have on a person’s life, and the power SLT professionals have to support positive changes for children and young people who have been diagnosed.
Carly Hartshorn, Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, was also keen to use the opportunity to raise awareness of this disorder among the next generation of SLT professionals.
Carly said: “We’re really excited to run our DLD event this year with the Leeds Beckett speech and language therapy society. It’s so important that students and clinicians are able to work together, build relationships, shape learning and mutually share knowledge.
“COVID-19 has changed the way that practice education is delivered for students and we’ve been able to develop exciting and innovative placement experiences that put students at the heart of patient care. The DLD day event allows us the opportunity to build on these fantastic relationships and look at other ways that we can support one another to develop a knowledgeable and experienced workforce.
“We’re also really pleased to be able to invite students from Manchester and Huddersfield universities as well as clinicians across a range of NHS and independent sectors. Nurturing strong links across all sectors allows us to reach the best possible outcomes for the children and young people that we work with.”
To mark the awareness day, the Piece Hall lit up purple last night, and Leeds Beckett City Campus will also be lit in purple this evening.
To find out more about Developmental Language Delay, you can visit Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder
You can also visit the Leeds Beckett Speech and Language Therapy Society page to find out more about their ongoing activities and campaigns