B4591 - Exploring links between Developmental Language Disorder in childhood and later work outcomes at 27 years - 31/07/2024

B number: 
B4591
Principal applicant name: 
Maggie Snowling | University of Oxford
Co-applicants: 
Ms Josephine Wallinger, Prof Barbara Maughan, Dr Thomas Fanshawe, Ms Jacqueline Murphy
Title of project: 
Exploring links between Developmental Language Disorder in childhood and later work outcomes at 27 years
Proposal summary: 

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and Developmental Dyslexia are common conditions in childhood yet have received relatively little research funding when compared to other neurodevelopmental conditions, and this is particularly so for DLD (Bishop, 2010; McGregor, 2020). An important consequence is that, there is limited research on the long-term impact or support needs when these conditions persist into adulthood. DLD and reading difficulties (RD) can affect educational attainment, lifelong learning and constitute hidden disabilities in the workplace. They frequently co-occur (Snowling, Hulme & Nation, 2020), increasing challenges for diagnosis, management and service provision.
This study is part of a broader PhD which will explore occupational health aspects relating to DLD and reading difficulties that impact on functioning in the workplace, through the experiences of young people and adults with DLD.
Although studies have shown that, on average, people with DLD and reading difficulties are likely to have poorer educational attainment and employment prospects, compared to those without DLD, there is currently limited knowledge of the reasons for such outcomes.
This study acknowledges that the training and employment prospects of young adults with DLD depend on their educational attainments. The analyses will therefore investigate educational and adult outcomes.
Bishop, D.V.M. (2010). ‘Which Neurodevelopmental Disorders Get Researched and Why?’, Plos One, 5(11), Plos One [Online]. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0015112
McGregor, K.K. (2020). How We Fail Children With Developmental Language Disorder. Language, Speech and Hearing Services in School, p.1-12. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2020_LSHSS-20-00003
Snowling, M.J., Hulme, C. & Nation, K. (2020). Defining and understanding dyslexia: past, present and future. Oxford Review of Education, 46(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2020.1765756

Impact of research: 
This study is part of a PhD which explores the life stories and work histories of adults with DLD. It aims to complement the findings of a qualitative study. This is a pre-intervention study, the findings of which aim to inform the development future support services/provision for adults with Developmental Language Disorder. We intend to disseminate the findings widely, including them in a PhD thesis, in peer reviewed publications, lay summaries and disseminating at conferences.
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 31 July, 2024
Date proposal approved: 
Wednesday, 31 July, 2024
Keywords: 
Clinical research/clinical practice, Developmental language disorder, specific learning difficulties, dyslexia, reading difficulties, Statistical methods, Developmental language disorder, reading difficulties, literacy, dyslexia, prospective cohort, longitudinal, work, employment, mental health, educational attainment, language