Specific Learning Disabilities

Informational Guide Prema Long SED 527

Umbrella Term for a Group of Disabilities

Specific learning disabilities (SLD) is a term that refers to a wide variety of learning problems.

SLD affect the way an individual can acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding in specific areas.

SLD can occur in a person with an average or above average IQ. Thus, there can be a large discrepancy between academic achievement and the intellectual abilities of person with a learning disability.

Common Types of Learning Disabilities

Problem Areas Description

Dyslexia Reading Difficulties reading, writing, spelling, speaking

Dyscalculia Math Difficulties doing math problems, using money, understanding time,

Dysgraphia Writing Difficulties with writing, spelling, organizing ideas

Dyspraxia Motor skills Difficulties with fine motor skills such as hand–eye coordination, balance,

Dysphasia/Aphasia

Language Difficulties understanding spoken language, poor reading comprehension

Visual Processing Disorder

Interpreting visual information

Difficulty interpreting visual information such as maps, charts, symbols,

Auditory Processing Disorder

Interpreting auditory information

Difficulty hearing differences between sounds

DyslexiaA common symptom of dyslexia is the reversal

of letters but there are other difficulties as well:Letter and word recognitionUnderstanding words and ideasReading speed and fluencyVocabulary skills

10-15% of population in US has dyslexia

Want to hear more? Here is a narrative from a young girl in England about her experience with dyslexiaDyslexia

DyscalculiaSometimes called “Mathematics

Disorder” or “Mathematical Difficulties.” A person with dyscalculia has difficulty understanding and using math concepts and symbols.

Between 3-6% of people have dyscalculia

If you want to learn more, read the latest research or find support for this disability follow this link:Dyscalculia

DysgraphiaDysgraphia is a learning disability in which a

person has difficulty expressing thoughts in writing

May also have difficulty with finger movements and muscle coordination required for writing

No exact numbers for how many people have dysgraphia because of the vagueness of the disability (i.e is it dysgraphia or poor penmanship?)

For ideas how to help students with dysgraphia practice their handwriting explore this page:Ideas for handwriting practice

DyspraxiaA person with dyspraxia has trouble

with fine motor skills and coordination.

Dyspraxia also can affect short-term memory and organization.

1 in 10 people have dyspraxia including Daniel Radcliffe (a.k.a. Harry Potter).

A first person narrative made by Gabriel about his experience with dyspraxia:Dyspraxia Narrative

Dysphasia/AphasiaDysphasia or aphasia is a disability that

affects a person’s capacity to communicate

A person with dysphasia may have trouble understanding common speech and may also utilize nonsense grammar and meaningless phrases in their own speech.

Very small percentage of people have aphasia (around 0.3%) but it is more common among the elderly and people who have suffered a Tramatic Brain Injury.

Visual Processing DisorderA visual processing disorder, or visual

perceptual disorder, refers to a person’s limited ability to understand what they see.

Common symptomsProblems discerning shapesTrouble telling foreground from

background objectsDifficulty discerning letters and numbersTrouble understanding and using symbols

Auditory Processing Disorder

Individuals with an auditory processing disorder cannot process information they hear in the same way as other people.

This results in difficulties recognizing and interpreting sounds, especially sounds composing speech.

About 5% of population has an auditory processing disorder.

Thoughts from a student with APDThoughts from a student

It’s Not the Same in Everyone!

While each SLD has common symptoms it is very important to note that a LD will affect individuals in different ways.

Because of the variability of SLD it makes them hard to identify and diagnose.

LD affect about 20% of the population. Which means as teachers we will be routinely working with students that have a Specific Learning Disability.

Implications for LearningDifferentiated lessons is vital for a student

with a SLDVisual, oral and tactile demonstrations

incorporated with in lessonsAlternate assessments

Video presentationOral presentationPortfolio

Technology, technology, technology!Text readersSpeech to text software

Easy AccommodationsConcise course and lecture outlines

Books on tape

Reinforcing directions verbally

Having written directions

Videotaped class sessions

Using technologyMost computers have assistive technologies

on them already or can have software installed

Resources for TeachersThe Web has tons of great resources here

are a few that I found the most useful:The Dyspraxia Foundation

Learning Disabilities Association of America

University of Washington “The Faculty Room”

Math Learning Disability Resource

Reading From Scratch - Dyslexia

Resources Used-page 1 http://dyslexia.mtsu.edu/about/faq.html

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_dyslexia_DCDC2.htm

http://www.dyscalculia.org/

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_What_dyscalculia/

http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/educators/therapists/special-needs

http://www.dyspraxiausa.org/

http://www.understanding-learning-disabilities.com/visual-processing-disorder.html

Resources Used-page 2 http://www.education.com/topic/visual-processing-disorder/

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/ears/central_auditory.html

http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/Strategies/Disability/LD/

http://www.dyslexia.org/

http://www.ldanatl.org/