# DCD vs DLD: the difference in young children Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-developmental-language-disorder-in-young-children Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) both make a child seem to fall behind, but they affect different areas. DCD is about movement — a child finds it hard to plan and carry out everyday physical actions, so running, dressing and writing feel clumsy. DLD is about language — a child struggles to understand and use words and sentences. In short: DCD affects how a child moves, DLD affects how a child understands and talks. They are separate conditions, though some children have both, and a careful assessment tells them apart. *Two different challenges that can look alike — one is about moving the body smoothly, the other about understanding and using words.* ## In short **Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)** is about *movement* — a child's brain and body find it hard to plan and carry out everyday physical actions, so things like running, doing buttons, holding a pencil or catching a ball feel clumsy and effortful. **Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)** is about *language* — a child struggles to understand what others say and to put their own thoughts into words and sentences, even though there is no obvious cause. In short: DCD affects how a child *moves*, DLD affects how a child *understands and talks*. The two are separate, though some children have both. ## How they look in everyday life A child with **DCD** is often described as clumsy or accident-prone. They may bump into things, trip easily, struggle with stairs, jumping or pedalling, and find self-care tricky — buttons, zips, cutlery, holding a crayon. Their movements look uncoordinated for their age, and learning a new physical skill takes far longer than for other children. Their understanding and talking are usually fine. A child with **DLD** understands and uses words later or differently than peers. They may have a small vocabulary, mix up the order of words, struggle to follow instructions, find it hard to tell a story or join a conversation, and become frustrated when they cannot make themselves understood. Their physical coordination is usually typical. Because both can make a child seem to 'fall behind' and both can dent confidence, they are sometimes confused — but the *core difficulty* is different: body in DCD, language in DLD. A careful assessment tells them apart, and identifies if both are present. ## When to seek a look Trust your instinct if your child is markedly clumsier than other children their age, or if their understanding and talking seem behind their peers. Neither label is usually applied to very young infants — these are recognised once a child is old enough for everyday motor and language milestones to be meaningfully compared (commonly from around 4–5 years), so earlier concerns are best framed as a developmental check rather than a diagnosis. ## The Pinnacle way This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care, never from an app or form. Our team observes how your child moves, understands and communicates, then recommends the right support — [occupational therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/best-occupational-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) where coordination is the picture, [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) where language is, drawing on insight from across [DCD and DLD support](https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/developmental-coordination-disorder). ## Trusted sources The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association on language development and DLD; the American Academy of Pediatrics and HealthyChildren on motor milestones and coordination; NICE guidance on developmental coordination difficulties. **Next step —** Unsure whether it's movement, language, or both? Book a developmental screening and let a clinician look closely at your child's strengths and needs. ## Sources - ASHA — Developmental Language Disorder: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/developmental-language-disorder/ - HealthyChildren (AAP) — Ages & developmental milestones: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/Pages/default.aspx - NICE — developmental guidance: https://www.nice.org.uk/ ## Connected topics and perspectives - Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent - Motor: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/motor - Definition: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/definition - Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen - Book Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/book-assessment - Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity ## Related question paths ### Understand the subject - DCD vs Speech and Language Delay in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-speech-and-language-delay-in-young-children - DCD vs Specific Learning Disability in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-specific-learning-disability-in-young-children - DCD vs Global Developmental Delay in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-global-developmental-delay-in-young-children - DCD vs Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-in-young-children - DCD vs Intellectual Disability in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-intellectual-disability-in-young-children - DCD vs Social Communication Difficulties in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-social-communication-difficulties-in-young-children - DCD vs Childhood Apraxia of Speech: the difference: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-childhood-apraxia-of-speech-in-young-children - DCD vs Childhood Epilepsy in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-childhood-epilepsy-in-young-children - DCD vs Childhood Sleep Difficulties in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-childhood-sleep-difficulties-in-young-children - DCD vs Developmental Regression in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-developmental-regression-in-young-children - DCD vs Developmental Trauma in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-developmental-trauma-in-young-children - DCD vs Down Syndrome in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-developmental-coordination-disorder-and-down-syndrome-in-young-children