As part of developmental language disorder (DLD) Awareness Day, Lydia Knight, a paediatric SLT, reflects on growing up with DLD.

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) has responded to the final report of the UK Government's 'Independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism' published on October 9, 2026. The review, led by Professor Peter Fonagy with interim reports shared in June 2026, proposes a significant shift from a diagnosis-dependent system to a 'needs-led plus diagnosis' approach. This means support should be available based on holistic needs assessment before diagnosis, while still recognizing diagnosis as fundamental to clinical care. The RCSLT welcomed the report's acknowledgment that language and communication needs often co-occur with mental health conditions, ADHD, and autism but are frequently overlooked in current systems. The report recommends organizing mental health and neurodevelopmental support through a single coordinated pathway working closely with education, social care, and local services. It emphasizes that language and communication needs should be explicitly recognized as part of the 'wider landscape of neurodevelopmental differences.' The RCSLT specifically highlighted the report's recognition of speech and language therapy as a core component of the recommended neighborhood multi-disciplinary team for children and young people. However, the college stressed that mental health conditions, ADHD, and autism are lifelong realities requiring support throughout adulthood. The RCSLT called for sustained government investment and workforce growth in speech and language therapy to implement the proposed needs-led support system effectively. The report, available on Gov.UK in accessible formats, represents a significant step toward more comprehensive and integrated care for individuals with these conditions. The RCSLT's response underscores the critical role of speech and language therapists in delivering this new approach to support, particularly as these conditions impact individuals across all life stages.

Dr Sean Pert is a Speech and Language Therapist with more than 25 years of experience in the NHS, Charity sector and Higher Education.

View anytime course for those supporting bilingual children who speak two or more languages, and experience speech and language difficulties

ALT: a man with a beard wearing a hat and a jacket