(10) Specific Learning Disability (Loc)
(i) General. Specific learning disability means 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, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.
(ii) Disorders not included. Specific learning disability 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.
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Causes:
perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain, dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia
Cure or Treatment
- Surgery
- Speech therapy
- Psychological therapy
Symptoms:
- imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell
- imperfect ability to do mathematics
Assistive Technology
- Proofreading software (Ginger, Ghoit)
- Grammar, spelling checker and reminder
- Word prediction to learn sentence construction
- Text-to-speech to activate multi-sensory pathways
- Graphic organizers (DraftBuilder)
- Outlining complex reading passages
- Mind mapping hierarchical concepts
- Math Tools (MathTalk)
- Speech-to-Math and Math-to-speech software
- Visualizing mathematical concepts
Accommodation
- Extra time allowance for exams and assignments
- One-on-one guided practice sessions
Consequences: adversely affect academic performance
- disorder in understanding language (verbal or mathematical)
- disorder in using language (verbal or mathematical)
Exclusions: learning problems that are primarily the result of
- visual, hearing, or motor disabilities,
- intellectual disability,
- emotional disturbance,
- environmental, cultural,
- economic disadvantage