Specific Learning

Disability
Jazmin Hernandez and Maritza Sanchez
Specific Learning Disability

Definition
 Specific Learning Disability
According to IDEA, 2004 “The term
"specific learning disability" means a disorder
in one or more of the basic psychological
processes involved in understanding or in
using language, spoken or written, which the
disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect
ability to listen, think, speak, read, write,
spell, or do mathematical calculations.”
DSM-5 Diagnosis
&
Type of Learning
Disorders
 Diagnosis & Type of Learning Disorders
DSM-5 Criteria Type of Learning Disorders
To be diagnosed with specific learning disability, a person must
➢ Auditory Processing Disorder
have difficulties in at least one of the following areas. The
symptoms must have continued for at least six months despite ➢ Dyscalculia
targeted help. ➢ Dysgraphia
➢ Dyslexia
1. Difficulty reading (e.g., inaccurate, slow and only with
much effort)
➢ Language Processing Disorder
2. Difficulty understanding the meaning of what is read ➢ Non-Verbal Learning Disability
3. Difficulty with spelling ➢ Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit
4. Difficulty with written expression (e.g., problems with
grammar, punctuation or organization)
SLD Disorders can vary in severity:
5. Difficulty understanding number concepts, number
facts or calculation
6. Difficulty with mathematical reasoning (e.g., applying Mild, Moderate to Severe.
math concepts or solving math problems)
 Symptoms
&
Characteristics
 Symptoms
Students with Specific Learning Disabilities may exhibit a wide range of symptoms.

Most frequently displayed symptoms:

➢ Short attention span

➢ Poor memory

➢ Difficulty following directions

➢ Inability to distinguish between/among letters, numerals, or sounds

➢ Poor reading and/or writing ability

➢ Eye-hand coordination problems; poorly coordinated

➢ Difficulties with sequencing

➢ Disorganized and other sensory difficulties.

 Characteristics
Characteristics that may be present:
➢ Student performs differently from day to day
➢ Responds inappropriately in many instances
➢ Reverses letters
➢ Places letters in incorrect sequence
➢ Impulsive difficulty understanding words
➢ Delayed speech development; immature speech
➢ Says one thing, means another
➢ Difficult to discipline
➢ Doesn’t adjust well to change
➢ Difficulty listening and remembering
➢ Difficulty telling time and knowing right from left
Prevalence of
Specific
Learning
Disability
 Prevalence
of
Specific Learning Disability
Currently, almost 2.9 million school-aged children in the United States are classified as having
specific learning disabilities and receive special education under the specific learning disabilities
category. (U.S. Department of Education, 2002).

This figure represents one-half of all school age children with disabilities and means that about
5 of every 100 students in the United States have a learning disability.

Males with learning disabilities outnumber females by a 3-to-1 ratio across grade levels.
 How is
Specific Learning
Disability
Diagnosed?
 Assessments to Identify Specific Learning
Disability
● A diagnosis of specific learning disorder is not based on a single source of information. It is based on a
combination of individual’s medical and family history, observation, interviews, history of the learning
difficulty, school reports, educational and psychological assessments, and standardized tests.

● An Evaluation of a student suspected of having SLD must include a variety of assessments tools and
strategies. The Evaluation must include:
1. Parent input
2. Observation of student academic performance
3. Observation of the student behavior in a general education classroom.

Once all agreed upon assessments and evaluation measures have been completed and the student parents have
received copies of the evaluation along with full explanation of the findings, the eligibility group needs to make
determination
 Group that Determines Eligibility
for Special Education

The determination, of whether a student has an SLD and requires special education is made by a
group including:

1. Student Parents
2. Team of qualified professional such as:
a. Student regular teacher
b. School psychologist, speech language pathologist
c. Remedial reading teacher

The individuals that make up the group may vary depending on the nature of the student’s suspected
disability.
 Steps Schools Take to Determine SLD
Step 1: Determination of Underachievement

Step 2: Determination of Response to Interventions or a Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses

(or Both)

Step 3: Determination of Appropriate Instruction

Step 4: Determination of Influence of Other Factors

 Assessment Instruments
for
Diagnosing Specific Learning Disabilities
1. Assessment Instruments for Diagnosing Specific Learning Disabilities
2. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, (WISC-5).
3. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Revised (WAIS 111), Verbal subtests only
4. Wechsler Memory Scales
5. Woodcock- Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability, R or III, Verbal subtests only
6. Woodcock- Johnson Psycho- Educational Battery, Revised or 111, Tests of Achievement
7. California Verbal Learning Test
8. Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills, selected subtests (Listening, Reading, Math, etc.)
9. Key Math Diagnostic Arithmetic Test- Revised
10. Test of Language Development 3, primary and intermediate
11. Test of Written Language
12. Test of Auditory Perceptual Skills
13. Lindamood Auditory Conceptualization Test (uses colored blocks)
14. Clinical Evaluation of Language Function- Revised
15. Test of Problem Solving
16. SCAN, Screening Test for Auditory Processing Disorders
17. The Word Test
18. Goldman- Fristoe Woodcock Auditory Skills Battery
19. Haptic Memory Matching Test, McCarron- Dial Systems
21. Various assessments for ADD/ADHD, behavioral & personality tests
22. Assessments used in occupational therapy, orientation & mobility
 Possible Causes
Of
Specific Learning
Disability
 Possible Causes
of
Specific Learning Disability
Experts are not exactly sure what causes learning disabilities. Some possibilities include:

Heredity:

Problems during pregnancy and birth:

Incidents after birth:

Learning disabilities are NOT caused by economic disadvantage, environmental factors, or cultural differences. In fact, there is
frequently no apparent cause for learning disabilities.
Interventions,
Resources and
Strategies
 Interventions & Strategies
Interventions for Specific Learning Disabilities
Below are just a few examples of ways educators can help children with specific learning disabilities.

Dyslexia
● Special teaching techniques. These can include helping a child learn through multisensory experiences and by providing immediate feedback to
strengthen a child’s ability to recognize words.
● Classroom modifications. For example, teachers can give students with dyslexia extra time to finish tasks and provide taped tests that allow the
child to hear the questions instead of reading them.
● Use of technology. Children with dyslexia may benefit from listening to books on tape or using word-processing programs with spell-check
features.
Dysgraphia
● Special tools. Teachers can offer oral exams, provide a note-taker, and/or allow the child to videotape reports instead of writing them.
● Use of technology. A child with dysgraphia can be taught to use word-processing programs or an audio recorder instead of writing by hand.
● Other ways of reducing the need for writing. Teachers can provide notes, outlines, and preprinted study sheets.
Dyscalculia
● Visual techniques. For example, teachers can draw pictures of word problems and show the student how to use colored pencils to differentiate
parts of problems.
● Use of memory aids. Rhymes and music are among the techniques that can be used to help a child remember math concepts.
● Use of computers. A child with dyscalculia can use a computer for drills and practice.
 Resources for Teachers and Parents
Resources for Teachers Resources for Parents & Students
1. National Center for Learning Disabilities- The mission of NCLD is to improve 1. LD-Online- LD-online also services adolescents and adults with learning
the lives of the 1in 5 children and adults nationwide with learning and attention disabilities. The site offers helpful articles, first person essays, children’s
issues by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools and writing and artwork. http://www.ldonline.org/about
advocating for equal rights opportunities. Working to create a society in which every 2. Understood- Online offers Parent information on additional resources for
individual possesses the academic, social and emotional skills needed to succeed in parents and children with Specific Learning Disability.
school, work and life. https://www.ncld.org/mission-and-history https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues
2. RTI Action Network- Their goal is to guide educators and families in the 3. IDEA- Parent Guide - A comprehensive guide to your rights and
large-scale implementation of RTI so that each child has access to quality responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
instruction and that struggling students – including those with learning and
https://www.ncld.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IDEA-Parent-Guide1.pd
attention issues are identified early and receive the necessary supports to be
successful. http://www.rtinetwork.org/about-us 4. CPIR -offers information and connections to the full spectrum of
3. LD-Online- Whether you're a general or special education teacher, principal, disabilities in children including developmental delays and specific learning
specialist, or paraprofessional, you play a vitally important role in helping children disabilities.
with learning disabilities achieve their full potential. LD OnLine has gathered the http://www.parentcenterhub.org/ld/
following resources to assist you in your important
job!http://www.ldonline.org/about 5. Reading Rockets - is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of
4. Naset (National Association of Special Education Teachers)- The NASET is research based reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help
the only national membership organization dedicated solely to meeting the needs f young children learn how to read and read better our reading resources help
special education teachers and those preparing for the field of special education parents, teachers and other educators in helping struggling readers build
teaching. fluency, vocabulary and comprehension skills.
https://www.naset.org/naset.0.html http://www.readingrockets.org/
5. International Dyslexia Association (formerly the Orton
Dyslexia Society)
The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is an organization that concerns itself
with the complex issues of dyslexia. The IDA actively promotes effective teaching
approaches and related clinical educational intervention strategies for people with
dyslexia, support and encourage interdisciplinary research, facilitate the exploration
of the causes and early identification of dyslexia, and disseminate research based
knowledge.
Outlook
 Outlook for Students with SLD
● Can Learning Disabilities Be Outgrown or Cured?

Even though most people don't outgrow their brain dysfunction, people do
learn to adapt and live fulfilling lives. Given the right types of educational experiences, people have a remarkable ability
to learn. The brain's flexibility to learn new skills is probably greatest in young children and may diminish somewhat
after puberty. This is why early intervention is so important. Nevertheless, we retain the ability to learn throughout our
lives.

Even though learning disabilities can't be cured, there is still cause

for hope. Because certain learning problems reflect delayed development,
many children do eventually catch up. Of the speech and language disorders,
children who have an articulation or an expressive language disorder are
the least likely to have long-term problems. Despite initial delays, most
children do learn to speak.
Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice
to Teachers from Students
 References
American Psychiatric Association. (2016). What is Specific Learning Disability. Retrieved from
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/specific-learning-disorder/what-is-specific-learning-disorder

BrainHighWays. (2015). Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice for Teachers from Students. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTMLzXzgB_s

Education (2010). Prevalence of Learning Disability. Retrieved from https://www.education.com/reference/article/prevalence-

learning-disabilities/

Hallahan, D. P., & Kaufman, J. M. Pullen, P.C. (2015). Exceptional learners: Introduction to special education (13th ed.). New
York: Pearson. ISBN: 9780133570724

LDonline.(2004). IDEA. Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/features/idea2004

Learning Disabilities Association. (n.d.). Symptoms of Learning Disability. Retrieved from https://ldaamerica.org/symptoms-of-
learning-disabilities/

NIH (n.d.). What are the treatments for learning disabilities? Retrieved from
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/learning/conditioninfo/treatment/Pages/default.aspx#f2

U.S. Department of Education. (2013). Welcome to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Program.
Retrieved from http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home.html