Which of the following is a characteristic of developmental language disorder (DLD)?

• A. Difficulties with mathematical skills
• B. Social anxiety in communication
• C. Difficulties with acquiring language skills
• D. Physical difficulties with speech production

Answer: (C)

Developmental language disorder (DLD) is primarily characterized by difficulties in acquiring language skills, which may include challenges with vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. This disorder affects an individual's ability to understand and produce language effectively, which can impact their ability to communicate in a range of situations. Individuals with DLD typically have no other cognitive impairments; their difficulties are specifically related to language development.

The other options, while they may be associated with communication in some contexts, do not define DLD itself. Difficulties with mathematical skills typically pertain to separate cognitive domains and are not central to language acquisition. Social anxiety may impact communication but is not inherent to DLD, as individuals with this disorder can exhibit varying levels of anxiety unrelated to their language abilities. Physical difficulties with speech production could relate more closely to speech disorders rather than a developmental language disorder focused on language acquisition. Thus, the most accurate characteristic of DLD is the difficulty with acquiring language skills.