Specific Learning Disorders

A Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a condition that affects certain academic skills, like reading, writing, or maths. Some people may struggle in just one of these areas, while others experience difficulties in more than one. You might have heard of ‘dyslexia’, which relates to difficulties with reading and spelling, or ‘dyscalculia’, which affects maths skills. Another term, ‘dysgraphia’, is used to describe challenges with writing.

People with SLDs often have difficulty with certain cognitive skills. For example, individuals with dyslexia commonly struggle with phonological processing, which is the ability to recognise and work with the sounds in spoken language. This difficulty can make it hard to link sounds to letters, a skill known as orthographic knowledge. They may also have challenges with working memory and processing speed, which are important for learning.

SLDs vary in their impact, from mild to severe. They don’t have a strict 'yes or no' diagnosis; instead, experts consider several factors to assess the presence and extent of a learning disorder. 

Specific Learning Disorders

A Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a condition that affects certain academic skills, like reading, writing, or maths. Some people may struggle in just one of these areas, while others experience difficulties in more than one. You might have heard of ‘dyslexia’, which relates to difficulties with reading and spelling, or ‘dyscalculia’, which affects maths skills. Another term, ‘dysgraphia’, is used to describe challenges with writing.

People with SLDs often have difficulty with certain cognitive skills. For example, individuals with dyslexia commonly struggle with phonological processing, which is the ability to recognise and work with the sounds in spoken language. This difficulty can make it hard to link sounds to letters, a skill known as orthographic knowledge. They may also have challenges with working memory and processing speed, which are important for learning.

SLDs vary in their impact, from mild to severe. They don’t have a strict 'yes or no' diagnosis; instead, experts consider several factors to assess the presence and extent of a learning disorder. 

Diagnostic Criteria

For a diagnosis of SLD, specific criteria must be met. Research suggests that SLDs are based in the brain and typically involve an unexpected struggle in certain academic areas, even when general thinking and language abilities, like vocabulary and reasoning, are at or above average. In other words, people with SLDs often have average or even above-average intelligence. However, the learning difficulty is specific to one or more academic skills, rather than affecting all areas of learning.

Other possible causes are also ruled out, such as intellectual disabilities, vision or hearing issues, motor disorders, gaps in schooling, limited English proficiency, or social disadvantages.

The Importance of Early Support

In short, people with SLDs may have average or high intelligence but still struggle with reading, writing, or maths. If SLDs go unaddressed, they can have lasting effects. Research shows that untreated SLDs can lead to lower educational achievement, higher rates of unemployment, reduced income, and increased psychological distress. However, with timely support and targeted interventions, people with SLDs can improve their learning outcomes and reduce the broader impact on their lives.

The first step in providing the right support is to assess whether a learning difficulty is due to an SLD. Once identified, effective help can make a world of difference.

What are the common symptoms of SLDs?

What does a diagnostic assessment involve?

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