Language, Friendship and Emotional Wellbeing: What the Research Tells Us

At Speech Boom, we believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated. That’s why we’re always exploring the latest research to deepen our understanding of how language, relationships, and emotional wellbeing intertwine—especially for children with developmental language disorder (DLD).

A recent UK study by Forrest et al. (2018) offers powerful insights into this connection. Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, researchers followed children from age 5 to 14 to explore how early language difficulties shape emotional outcomes in adolescence. The findings are both sobering and hopeful.

What Did the Study Find?

Children identified as at risk for DLD at age 5 were significantly more likely to experience emotional difficulties at ages 7 and 14. But here’s the key nuance: peer problems—like feeling excluded or struggling to make friends—partially explained this link.

In fact, peer difficulties accounted for:

• 14% of the emotional challenges at age 7

• 17% of the emotional challenges at age 14

This means that while language matters, relationships matter too. When children with DLD experience social connection and peer acceptance, their emotional wellbeing improves.

Why Does This Matter?

Language is more than vocabulary—it’s how we connect, express, and belong. Children with DLD often face barriers to social interaction, which can lead to loneliness, anxiety, and low self-esteem. But these outcomes aren’t inevitable. With the right support, children can build friendships, develop confidence, and thrive emotionally. That’s where neurodiversity-affirming practice comes in.

What Can We Do?

At Speech Boom, we’re committed to turning research into action. Here’s how we support children with DLD:

• Play-based social communication groups that foster connection and confidence in school holidays

• Inclusion of our pivots goals, which involve pivotal skills in social communication, literacy and executive function (focus and planning)

• Parent coaching that empowers families to nurture friendships and emotional resilience

• Interventions like our upcoming Executive Edge & Communication Lab—designed especially for girls navigating social nuance with neurodivergent strengths

We also advocate for inclusive school cultures where difference is celebrated, not pathologized.  Because every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and connected.

A Final Thought

This study reminds us that emotional wellbeing isn’t just about what a child can say—it’s about who listens, who includes, and who stands beside them. As practitioners, educators, and families, we have the power to shape those relationships.

Let’s keep building spaces where language grows, friendships flourish, and every child feels they belong.