Dyslexia and Related Disorders

Has your child been classified as having a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) in public school?
Is that phrase confusing to you?
Are you unsure what steps to take next?

You are not alone! Most parents feel exactly the same way when first told their child has SLD.

Specific Learning Disability is an “umbrella” term describing a number of other, more specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and dysgraphia. Your child may have been classified as having SLD, but the school will not tell you exactly which one…and this is both confusing and frustrating. Sadly, most often it is the parent’s responsibility to determine which disabilities may apply to your child (and it can be more than one). Only after you know what learning disabilities your child has can the appropriate education be applied in school.

Learning disabilities should not be confused with learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor handicaps; of intellectual disability; of emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural or economic disadvantages. People with learning disabilities are of average or above average intelligence. There often appears to be a gap between the individual’s potential and actual achievement in school. This is why learning disabilities are referred to as “hidden disabilities”: the person looks perfectly “normal” and seems to be a very bright and intelligent person, yet may be unable to demonstrate the skill level expected from someone of a similar age.

A learning disability cannot be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong challenge. However, with appropriate support and intervention, people with learning disabilities can achieve success in school, at work, in relationships, and in the community.

Step One is to learn more about which disability may apply to your child…below are the most common disabilities that are classified under SLD (per https://ldaamerica.org).

Step Two is to find a professional to help make the proper diagnosis.

Step Three is to work with your school to address your child’s specific needs. Request Accommodations. Get more targeted education. Explicit teaching.

Note…Many have found outside tutors bridge the gap of school education for their child. Once you have clear focus on the learning difference, finding proper tutoring/expertise can be critical. Act quickly as early intervention is paramount to student success long term.

	Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) Also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder, this is a condition that adversely affects how sound that travels unimpeded through the ear is processed or interpreted by the brain. Individuals with APD do not recognize subtle differences between sounds in words, even when the sounds are loud and clear enough to be heard. They can also find it difficult to tell where sounds are coming from, to make sense of the order of sounds, or to block out competing background noises.
	Dyscalculia A specific learning disability that affects a person’s ability to understand numbers and learn math facts. Individuals with this type of LD may also have poor comprehension of math symbols, may struggle with memorizing and organizing numbers, have difficulty telling time, or have trouble with counting.
	Dysgraphia A specific learning disability that affects a person’s handwriting ability and fine motor skills. Problems may include illegible handwriting, inconsistent spacing, poor spatial planning on paper, poor spelling, and difficulty composing writing as well as thinking and writing at the same time.
	Dyslexia A specific learning disability that affects reading and related language-based processing skills. The severity can differ in each individual but can affect reading fluency, decoding, reading comprehension, recall, writing, spelling, and sometimes speech and can exist along with other related disorders. Dyslexia is sometimes referred to as a Language-Based Learning Disability.
	Language Processing Disorder A specific type of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) in which there is difficulty attaching meaning to sound groups that form words, sentences and stories. While an APD affects the interpretation of all sounds coming into the brain, a Language Processing Disorder (LPD) relates only to the processing of language. LPD can affect expressive language and/or receptive language.
	Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities A disorder which is usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial and social skills. Typically, an individual with NLD (or NVLD) has trouble interpreting nonverbal cues like facial expressions or body language, and may have poor coordination.
	Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit A disorder that affects the understanding of information that a person sees, or the ability to draw or copy. A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD, it can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.
Related Disorders
	ADHD A disorder that includes difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity. Although ADHD is not considered a learning disability, research indicates that from 30-50 percent of children with ADHD also have a specific learning disability, and that the two conditions can interact to make learning extremely challenging.
	Dyspraxia A disorder that is characterized by difficulty in muscle control, which causes problems with movement and coordination, language and speech, and can affect learning. Although not a learning disability, dyspraxia often exists along with dyslexia, dyscalculia or ADHD.
	Executive Functioning An inefficiency in the cognitive management systems of the brain that affects a variety of neuropsychological processes such as planning, organization, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space. Although not a learning disability, different patterns of weakness in executive functioning are almost always seen in the learning profiles of individuals who have specific learning disabilities or ADHD.
	Memory Three types of memory are important to learning. Working memory, short-term memory and long-term memory are used in the processing of both verbal and non-verbal information. If there are deficits in any or all of these types of memory, the ability to store and retrieve information required to carry out tasks can be impaired.

Dyslexia and Related Disorders Reporting Study

In 2013, House Bill (HB) 1264 added Texas Education Code, §42.006, to require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to report the number of students enrolled who are identified as having dyslexia through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS).

In an effort to better understand the reporting procedures used by districts and open-enrollment charter schools with regard to the PEIMS dyslexia indicator as well as to determine whether the guidance provided to districts is sufficient to ensure that students with dyslexia and related disorders are correctly reported,TEA contracted with American Institutes for Research (AIR) to conduct a study of dyslexia reporting. Results of the study are available at the link below.