How is Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Different from LD?

Have you ever noticed a child who seems bright and eager to learn, yet struggles with reading, writing, or other basic skills that come easily for most students their age? Or a teenager who feels perpetually frustrated that their academic abilities don’t seem to match their intellectual potential? These scenarios may indicate an underlying condition known as a specific learning disability (SLD).

SLDs are one of the most common developmental disorders students face, originating from subtle differences in how the brain processes information. Let’s understand it in detail.

SLD Meaning

Specific learning disabilities (SLDs) cause bright students to struggle with skills like reading, writing, math, speaking or social abilities. Though intelligence and motivation aren’t factors, their brains process information differently.

Specific learning disability vary widely in manifestations…..

• Dyslexia affects reading ability
• Dyscalculia impacts mathematical reasoning
• Dysgraphia hinders writing skills.

But, early identification helps prevent hurdles from getting bigger over time.

With proper resources like assistive technology, tutoring in specialized methods, and legally mandated supports, those with SLDs can thrive academically. Their neurological diversity holds unique strengths when nurtured. Empowering students requires equipping them to bypass learning barriers.

Specific Learning Disability Examples

Type	Examples	Symptoms
Dyslexia	Difficulty with reading	Poor word recognition
		Struggles sounding out words
		Slow, inaccurate reading
Dyscalculia	Difficulty with math	Trouble with counting
		Struggles learning math facts
		Mixing up number order
Dysgraphia	Difficulty with writing	Messy, irregular handwriting
		Frequent spelling mistakes
		Problems organizing ideas in writing
Auditory processing disorder	Difficulty processing verbal information	Difficulty following oral directions
		Learning through lectures challenging
		Need increased verbal processing time
Visual processing disorder	Difficulty interpreting visual information	Problems differentiating similar letters or symbols
		Difficulty converting images into meaning
		Issue tracking moving objects
ADD/ADHD	Attention difficulties	Easily distracted
		Limited attention span
		Struggles completing tasks

Different Types of Specific Learning Disability

Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD)

Challenges with visual-spatial, organizational and social skills, while verbal abilities remain strong.

ADHD

While not technically a learning disability on its own, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often overlaps with learning disabilities. The impulsivity and distraction make it harder for child to acquire and demonstrate academic skills.

Speech and Language Disorders

These include problems formulating speech sounds, stuttering, voice disorders and impaired comprehension of verbal language. They make communication-based learning difficult.

Processing Speed Deficit

Even children with adequate memory and reasoning ability may struggle because their brains process new information much slower than average, hindering their ability to keep up.

The cognitive impacts of these disorders lead to common daily struggles in school for children with SLDs.

They may mix up math signs, forget verb tenses when writing, regularly mispronounce long words, transpose number sequences, or have anxiety about academics.

Signs, Symptoms and Daily Impacts of SLDs

Catching SLDs early matters because small learning gaps in elementary school can turn into major problem in future.

But since each child develops at their own pace, learning struggles can be tricky for parents or teachers to spot. Some telltale signs a bright kid may have an undiagnosed SLD include:

By middle school, the cumulative effects of an unidentified SLD often lead to very noticeable difficulties:

High schoolers with undiagnosed or unsupported learning disorders are vulnerable to long-term risks like disengagement, behavior issues, course failures, depression or even dropping out. Catching and addressing learning barriers when students are young helps prevent years of needless suffering.

FAQs

What are the early signs of a specific learning disability?

Some common early signs include:

• Trouble learning colors, shapes, days of the week, letter sounds
• Reversing letters
• Struggling to retell a story in order
• Very slow completion of work
• Avoidance of reading.

Do specific learning disabilities only affect academics?

No. Issues like impulsive behavior, undeveloped motor skills, poor emotional regulation, lack of focus, and problems interpreting social cues often accompany learning disorders and complicate development.