Speaking, listening, reading, writing, spelling, and even thinking are daily tasks that so many of us do with ease. Whether you’re scrolling the internet, giving a presentation, or simply carrying on a conversation, these everyday things require so many functions of the brain to operate in just the right way. And for most of us, we just carry on without considering how hard our brain is working with our body to make all these things happen.
However, when someone has a specific learning disability, they have a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language. An SLD disability is often characterized by a gap between a student’s potential and their actual academic achievement. These conditions are persistent and require specialized instruction to manage effectively.
Some defining factors of SLDs include a student having low academic achievement and needing a lot of support for average achievement. Oftentimes, a student with an SLD seems to have great potential for academic achievement, but his or her performance isn’t quite matching up to potential. Students with SLDs also tend to have deficiencies that aren’t explained by developmental disabilities, neurological, sensory, or motor disorders. SLDs are persistent, and accompanying learning problems do not tend to improve over time.
There are specific criteria a student must meet to be diagnosed with a specific learning disorder. A variety of assessments will help to determine a student’s SLD status. These can include tests, grade average over time, and state administered assessments. A student is also assessed on meeting standards in oral expression, listening and reading comprehension, written expression, basic reading skills, reading fluency, and math calculation and problem solving. To confirm an SLD status, data must show the student received appropriate instruction but still struggles with reading fluency, written expression, or math calculation. A student may be evaluated for a specific learning disability by his or her school/district or other professional.
Different types of SLD disability present with various symptoms. Common indicators include difficulty sounding out words (decoding), poor hand-eye coordination, disorganization, and inconsistent performance across different subjects. These are just a few symptoms, though none completely capture the difficulties encountered with an SLD.
Once a student is identified as having a specific learning disability, several subtypes may be specified:
Dyslexia: A language processing disorder affecting reading and spelling.
Dysgraphia: Impacts writing, including grammar and motor skills.
Dyscalculia: Often called “math dyslexia,” affecting number sense.
Auditory/Language Processing Disorders: Affecting how the brain interprets sounds and speech.
Sometimes, defining what a concept is not helps to gain an understanding of the definition.
Having a specific learning disability is not an intellectual limitation; rather, it represents a difference in how the brain processes information. Many incredibly prolific minds had SLDs. For example, famous authors like Hans Christian Andersen, Agatha Christie, and F. Scott Fitzgerald were all dyslexic. Their exceptional storytelling capabilities demonstrate that with the right tools, resources, and intervention, an SLD does not limit long-term creative or professional success.
SLDs can be experienced by people with conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, and developmental aphasia.
SLDs do not include learning problems that are the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, or environmental cultural, or economic disadvantage.
While these are lifelong conditions, timely diagnosis and treatment can lead to success. Dyslexia on Demand provides dyslexia therapy led by Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs). Our online dyslexia tutoring uses a multisensory, systematic approach to help students build the accuracy and independence they need. With Dyslexia on Demand, students work with a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) multiple times per week. Through dyslexia therapy, students will be guided in a multisensory program with systemic instruction for both reading and spelling.
Securing an official SLD evaluation through the public school system can often be a slow and difficult process. For many families, obtaining a comprehensive diagnostic profile from a qualified third-party specialist is a faster path to establishing necessary classroom accommodations and educational interventions. When navigating this administrative process, organizations like the Council of Parents Advocates and Attorneys serve as excellent resources for connecting families with local educational advocates and legal support.
Dyslexia therapy can build a high degree of accuracy, knowledge, and independence for students with the specific learning disability of dyslexia.
Seeking expert help for specific learning disabilities is one of the best things you can do for your student. The mission of Dyslexia on Demand is to make dyslexia therapy available to students all over the nation with online programs. Developing tailored reading skills and strategies can help to change the lives of students. Working with CALTs one-on-one or in a group setting makes a big difference. The work students do can help to boost their self-confidence and increase their interest in reading.
Dyslexia on Demand is ready to help your student succeed. For more information on help for students with specific learning disabilities, contact Dyslexia on Demand.
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