IDEA Definition
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 defines a specific learning disability (SLD) as "a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations.” There are numerous conditions that need to be ruled out in order to determine that a learner has a specific learning disability. This includes that a learner “does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; of intellectual disability; of emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.” In summary, an SLD is a neurological condition that affects a person's ability to store, process, or produce certain information. There is typically a gap between a person's ability and their performance. An SLD can not be cured, it will remain a life-long disability. However, with the right interventions, people with learning disabilities can be successful both academically and socially.
Specific Disabilities Categories consist of:
Specific Disabilities Categories consist of:
- Oral expression
- Listening comprehension
- Written expression
- Basic reading skill
- Reading fluency skills
- Reading comprehension
- Mathematics calculation
- Mathematics problem solving
Prevelance- Specific Learning Disabilities are relatively prevalent. As of the 2015-2016 school year, 34% of students receiving special education were diagnosed as having a specific learning disability.