dld & me

While my experience of having DLD has been challenging I've also had positive experiences.

• My dog Barney- he always includes me, he doesn't judge me, he listens to me (most of the time) and acts on what I tell him
• Counselling - it gives me a voice but it takes time to get the right fit of counsellor
• Regular 1:1 meetings with a mentor in school - I go in with a list - I feel I am listened to
• Regular SALT sessions - I gain confidence as they automatically adjust for me so it is easier for me to speak
• Listening to others talk about their experiences with DLD - I know I'm not alone and I am determined to raise awareness
• Making videos - I get my point of view across without any interruptions
• Positive affirmations book- I can refer back to what has been written about me by people that know me if I'm having a bad day
• Work experience- it showed me what I could do in the future if I am brave
• Going abroad- I fit in as I use my everyday coping mechanisms and am quicker to adjust to foreign languages than other non DLD people

• Exhausting - talking is everywhere and every day I have to be brave and show courage just to fit in. It takes a lot of energy to be resilient. It takes a lot of hard work to get through the day
• Misjudged and misunderstood for what I do or don't say and by people who don't know me or DLD
• Invisible - people forget I am there as I listen more than I speak
• Ignored- people don't ask me things directly, they assume and make choices for me
• Frustrating - I want to join in but I am not asked and can't find the words in time- they get stuck in a fog or in my chest
• Lonely- I don't have many friends as it's hard to keep up with a conversation, once I've thought of something to say the conversation has moved on so eventually I am just left out
• Isolating- I am not included and feel like an outsider as I am overlooked
• A foreigner in my own country - I often don't understand the whole conversation so I have to interpret the body language and facial expressions to work out what has been said
• Under the spotlight- a lot of time is spent 1:1 with an adult - there is no let up
• Tiring - my brain is under a lot of pressure to focus to process what is being said so after a while it shuts down
• Always being on catch up- it's hard to experience anything in real time as it takes time for me to process
• Stressful - I am on edge with people I don't know well incase I am asked to say something and I can't understand what is being said or they can't understand what I say in response

• Starting a conversation
• Asking for help
• Talking about my feelings
• Understanding what is being said in a conversation
• Joining in a conversation at a normal pace
• Understanding what is being written in a paragraph
• Being put under time pressure to answer a question
• Being asked to use my imagination without prompts