WHAT ARE SPECIFIC LEARNING DIFFICULTIES?

People with Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) have strengths in some areas and unexpected weaknesses in others.
For example:

• they may be coping well in mathematics while having difficulty learning to read, spell and write or
• they may be good at oral language and poor in written language
• they may also have problems with number skills eg., times tables

SLDs are not primarily due to:

• low intelligence
• emotional problems
• vision or hearing difficulties
• attention difficulties
• inadequate teaching

A Hidden Handicap

Children and adults with specific learning difficulties are often misunderstood and mistakenly seen as lazy,
lacking in ability or poorly motivated.

Terminology

In the USA the term "learning disability" refers to what are called "specific learning difficulties" in the UK and Australia. Dyslexia is the most widely known learning disability/specific learning difficulty and refers to a problem with reading, spelling and written language. People with an SLD may also have difficulty with mathematics, (sometimes called dyscalculia), or difficulty with handwriting (sometimes called dysgraphia).

Early Recognition, Assessment and Management

Early recognition is important so that appropriate educational assistance may be provided.  If the child’s learning difficulty is undetected or ignored during the early years of schooling, the burden of failure and frustration may contribute to secondary problems such as low self esteem, and emotional and behavioural problems.  These make the situation harder for the child, parents and teachers.

Older Students and Adults.

Secondary school and university students with SLDs may be eligible for alternative assessment procedures and support with their reading and written work requirements. For those in the workplace there is a growing number of resources available to assist people with SLDs.

Recognising Specific Learning Difficulties

People with specific learning difficulties do not all have
the same types of problems.  However, most will have
a number of the characteristics listed below:

• average or above average ability 
• poor reading, spelling, writing or mathematics, or uneven achievement across the curriculum
• difficulty copying or writing things down
• poor handwriting
• take longer than other children to finish written work
• a history of speech and language difficulties
• trouble remembering times tables
• difficulty learning to tell the time and/or a weak concept of time
• a poor memory for oral instructions
• trouble following a line of print
• is easily distracted
• is fidgety and has difficulty concentrating
• poor organisational skills
• a family history of similar problems

How Common are Specific Learning Difficulties?

Estimates vary, but range between 3 and 10% of the population.

What Can I Do?

1. Approach the principal of your child’s school and ask if an assessment can be arranged by a specialist in  specific learning difficulties.
2. Contact SPELD (SA)