What is a Specific Learning Disability (SLD)?

Learning is a fun and challenging part of childhood and adolescence that, hopefully, continues into adulthood. It is a particularly integral part of early life as children and teens go through rapid physical, emotional, and mental development. However, not everyone will have a smooth learning process. Some individuals may have a specific learning disability (SLD) that impacts their time at school and beyond. Here, we’ll discuss what specific learning disabilities are, signs to look out for, as well as diagnosis and treatment.

What is a Specific Learning Disability?

A specific learning disability is a condition that results in children having difficulty with reading, writing, and/or mathematics. These kids may have trouble with spelling, reading comprehension, writing out thoughts, or solving math problems.

This doesn’t mean that children with specific learning disabilities aren’t intelligent; these disorders point to neurological differences that affect how some kids’ brains process information.

Types of Specific Learning Disabilities?

There are several types of specific learning disabilities. The most common are the following:

• Dyslexia: a specific learning disability in reading.
• Dysgraphia: a specific learning disability in writing.
• Dyscalculia: a specific learning disability in mathematics.

Other types of specific learning disabilities may include:

• Dyspraxia: a disorder that affects visual perception, spatial awareness, motor coordination, short-term working memory, and the organization of thoughts and tasks.
• Auditory processing disorder: a condition affecting the ability to process and interpret sound.
• Language processing disorder: a disorder related to auditory processing that affects a child’s ability to attach meaning to sound groups.
• Nonverbal learning disability: a specific learning disability that affects motor coordination, visual-spatial organization, and social skills.
• Visual perceptual/visual motor deficit: a specific learning disorder that affects the ability to understand visual information, affecting the ability to draw or copy.

Causes of Specific Learning Disabilities

While researchers do not know all of the specific causes of SLDs, they have identified risk factors that can help identify some potential explanations for these disorders.

Some studies have found that if one parent has a learning disorder, there is a higher likelihood that their children will have it, too [*]. This suggests the role of genetics.

According to experts, there are also external factors [*] at play, including the following: 

• Contracting a severe illness during pregnancy
• Other complications during pregnancy, such as decreased levels of oxygen to the baby’s brain
• A child becoming very ill at a young age

The first study referenced above also goes into detail about factors that affect fetal development in the womb, such as alcohol or drug use. This can increase the risk of developing a learning disability for the child. An infant’s environment can also play a role. For instance, poor nutrition or exposure to lead in substances like water or paint can affect learning disabilities. Young children who are not supported in their intellectual development may also show signs of specific learning disabilities when they enter school.

To understand SLDs better, researchers have studied how children’s brains learn to develop reading, writing, and mathematical skills. They are also developing interventions that help address the needs of children who struggle with reading the most to improve learning and overall well-being.

It is possible for an individual to develop a learning disability later in life due to injury. Some possible causes include traumatic brain injury [*] or the development of dementia.

Signs of Specific Learning Disabilities

How do you know if your child has specific learning disabilities? Here are some signs to look out for in your child’s learning:

• Continuing difficulties in reading, writing, and/or mathematical reasoning
• Slow, effortful, or inaccurate reading and writing
• Difficulties in remembering facts about numbers
• Written expression is poor in quality and lacks clarity
• Inaccurate reasoning in mathematics
• Trouble remembering words
• Leaving out smaller words
• Poor spelling
• Difficulty understanding numerical concepts (e.g., more, less, bigger, smaller)
• Taking longer to learn basic mathematical concepts
• Difficulty with various mathematical operations
  

Diagnosing Specific Learning Disabilities in Children

When a child is diagnosed with a specific learning disorder, their diagnosis will list all the areas that the child is having difficulty with. However, an accurate SLD diagnosis is only possible if the explanation for the child’s symptoms cannot be explained by other causes. For example, your child may be experiencing challenges in learning because of difficult classroom instructions. It is also possible that they have auditory or vision problems that are undiagnosed.

To better understand your child’s symptoms, it is best to consult their pediatrician. A diagnosis for SLD requires a specialized assessment and evaluation from a licensed psychologist. The process typically begins with some coordination with your child’s school, a process called response to intervention. It is a system of support that schools implement to identify and provide quality education to those with learning disabilities or disorders. Specifically, it aims to help children with general classroom instruction, small group instruction, and individual instruction [*].

Educators establish academic testing benchmarks to monitor their students’ progress and identify any students who might need additional attention. Students without learning disabilities can also benefit from this, as they may receive personalized help and move into classrooms that better fit their learning styles.

Children who continue to struggle despite receiving additional help from teachers can then be tested by the school or a psychologist to assess for learning disorders. This can include psychological tests, academic tests, a review of family history, interviews with teachers, and medical exams to rule out other explanations for learning challenges.

Treatment for Specific Learning Disabilities in Children

While specific learning disabilities are neurodevelopmental and considered to be lifelong in nature, there are many ways for children to improve their skills now and as they grow into adults.  

Extra help

Extra help may be just the thing your child needs to improve their learning skills. Tutors, specialists, and other trained professionals can teach your child specific skills and strategies for schoolwork, studying, and getting organized.

Individualized education program (IEP)

Individualized education programs (IEPs) are written plans that set learning goals and describe the special education services needed by a child. Schools develop IEPs for students identified as having a learning disorder. 

Changes in the classroom

Changes in the classroom, otherwise known as accommodations, can also be implemented. For example, some students who have learning disorders may be given more time to complete homework or tests. They may also be seated near their teachers to increase attention. Some students may also be allowed to use gadgets that help them solve mathematical problems or turn text into speech they can hear. Audiobooks are another excellent accommodation for students with learning disabilities so they can listen to the book while reading a physical copy.

Therapy

Therapy may help with learning disabilities. Occupational therapy can improve writing problems, while a speech-language therapist can support your child with their language skills. 

Medication

Having a learning disability can be difficult and may be related to other conditions such as affective, anxiety, and ADHD-type problems [*]. Your child’s pediatrician may prescribe medication to treat symptoms of anxiety or ADHD to help them focus in school.

How to Support a Child with a Specific Learning Disability

Supporting a child with a specific learning disability can be challenging, but there are several ways that you — as a parent, guardian, or caregiver — can help. 

Take charge of your child’s education

Your role in your child’s education is more important than ever, so being active in their daily learning is a must. Get involved with your child’s coursework, including their homework. Get to know their teachers and learn about the opportunities and challenges they encounter with your child in the classroom. It is also important to discuss your child’s learning with the school counselor. 

Take advantage of multi-sensory learning

A multi-sensory approach to teaching at home and in the classroom can help your child identify their learning preferences and make it easier to comprehend and absorb new concepts. Diverse activities will allow children to stay engaged and make learning a fun activity.

Promote a healthy lifestyle

Learning involves the body just as well as the brain. Ensure that your child is eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly; these are more important than you may realize in your child’s learning journey. Children, with or without learning disabilities, can focus better, concentrate, and work hard if they feel well physically and mentally.

Explore our Healthy Habits Posters to help your child follow through with a healthy lifestyle that supports learning.

The Bottom Line

Learning disabilities can be tough to handle, especially if your child yearns to do well in school. Fortunately, there are many ways for you to support them. Getting diagnosed is an important first step and will allow you to take the appropriate action to help your child. Gathering enough support from your child’s educators is also paramount to their success. Specific learning disabilities may indeed be challenging, but it is definitely something you and your child can get through together.

References:

1. National Institutes of Health. What causes learning disabilities? 11 September 2018.
2. National Health Service. Learning disabilities. 10 January 2022.
3. National Institutes of Health. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). 24 November 2020.
4. Warburton E. Efficacy of Response to Intervention for Students Struggling with Reading. 2019.
5. Aro T, Eklund K, Rescorla S, et al. Learning Disabilities Elevate Children’s Risk for Behavioral-Emotional Problems: Differences Between LD Types, Genders, and Contexts. 13 November 2021.