DLD voices: Setting the research agenda for developmental language disorder in Australia.

PURPOSE: Developmental language disorder is associated with adverse social, academic, and mental health outcomes. The developmental language disorder community are the end-point consumers of research, as such, their input into research priorities is invaluable. We took a bottom-up approach to identify and prioritise the research needs of consumers with lived experience of developmental language disorder, their families, and supporters. METHOD: This study employed Q methodology to systematically and inclusively identify and sort participants' research priorities. Anonymous interest-holders (n = 82) were recruited to develop a Q-set of research priorities. Research statements were refined from this Q-set by the consumer advisory group who also drew on findings of a literature review. Finally, results from a nationally distributed Q-sort (n = 35) were analysed within each participant group (lived experience and professionals) using Q-Method software. RESULT: Two main viewpoints on future developmental language disorder research priorities in Australia were identified: 'Environmental support and enabling participation' and 'Building the evidence-base'. CONCLUSION: Community and professional interest-holders prioritise research for developmental language disorder which focuses on building communicative environments of people who have developmental language disorder and enriching the evidence-base for accurate diagnosis and effective interventions. This work informs the future research agenda for developmental language disorder in Australia and internationally.