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What tests are used to diagnose DLD?

Diagnosing Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) involves a comprehensive assessment carried out by a speech pathologist. There is no single test for DLD—rather, a combination of tools is used to evaluate how a child understands and uses language. Commonly used tests in Australia include:

  • CELF-5 (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals – Fifth Edition): measures receptive and expressive language skills.
  • PPVT (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test): assesses vocabulary knowledge and understanding.
  • EVT (Expressive Vocabulary Test): measures word-finding and expressive vocabulary.
  • Narrative and storytelling assessments: evaluate how children organise and share information.
  • Functional communication checklists: gather insights from parents and teachers about how language difficulties affect daily life.
These assessments help determine whether language difficulties are persistent, significant, and not explained by hearing loss, intellectual disability, or autism.

If you think your child may need testing for DLD, book a consultation with us to arrange a comprehensive language assessment.