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Learning difficulties and Specific Learning Disorders
01 What Do I Need To Know?
What is a Specific Learning Disorder?
It is an impairment in one or more psychological processes related to learning. It results in below average academic acheivement in reading, writing or mathematics.
Affects 4-5 % of students.
Diagnosis : Using the DSM 5 diagnostic criteria
Criteria A: Peristent difficuties learning and using academic skills despite 6 months of intervention
Criteria B: Academic diffculties signifcantly below age expectations
Criteria C: Learning difficuties began during school age years
Criteria D: Learning difficuties not better accounted for by other condtions e.g. sensory impairment, neurological disorders, psychosocial adversity, language difficulties, inadequate educational instruction.
Types of Specific learnig Disorders
Reading
Reading comphrehension
Word reading accuracy
Reading rate or fluency
Written expression
Spelling accuracy
Grammar and punctuation accuracy
Clarity and organisation of written expression
Mathematics
Number sense
Memoristion of arithmetic facts
Accurate or fluent correction
Accurate math reasoning
Dyslexia is: Reading SLD and spelling accuracy
Dyscalculia is: Number sense, memoristion of arithmetic facts and accurate or fluent correction
Intervention
In younger children grade 2 or less the approach is remediation and in children grade 3-6 the approach is accommodation.
Response and intervention: 3 tier approach to learning and instruction school
Tier 1: Universal instruction: best practice teaching, prevention and screening
Tier 2: Selected instruction: students requiring additional support in small group remediation and compensation
Tier 3: Targeted instruction: 1:1 instruction and an Individual Learning plan ILP
02 What Others Say
Assessment
03 I Want To Know More
- Special education Intervention and assessment providers
SPELD (Specific learning Difficulties)
- Referral service for students and provides qualified tutors
Learning Difficulties Australia
- Five from five Literacy Project
- Tips on reading to your child
The information is not intended to take the place of medical advice.
Please seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
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Last updated: 26/05/2018