What are Learning Disorders (SLDs)?
Learning differences are not about laziness, motivation, or parenting. They reflect how a child’s brain processes information. A Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a brain-based difference that impacts learning in reading, writing, and/or math—often alongside real strengths in other areas. Our goal is to understand how a student learns best so instruction, tools, and environments can be matched to their needs.
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What SLD Means in Clinics vs. Schools
Clinical (DSM-5-TR):
Specific Learning Disorder (SLD)
A medical diagnosis made by a qualified clinician (e.g., psychologist). Subtypes include SLD with impairment in reading (often including dyslexia), written expression (often including dysgraphia), and mathematics (often including dyscalculia).
Schools (IDEA):
Specific Learning Disability (also “SLD”)
An educational classification used by a school team to determine eligibility for special education services.
A student can have a clinical diagnosis, a school classification, or both. They serve different purposes but often describe the same learning profile.
Types of Learning Disorders
Reading
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Dyslexia – Difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, decoding (sounding out), and spelling; rooted in how the brain processes the sounds of language and links sounds to letters.
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Other SLDs in Reading – Not all reading SLDs are dyslexia. Some students have difficulties with comprehension (understanding text) and/or fluency (speed/efficiency) even if decoding is intact.
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Stealth Dyslexia – Common in twice-exceptional (2E) students. Strong reasoning/memory can mask decoding weakness. Students may read accurately but slowly, avoid long texts, or fatigue quickly—challenges often become more noticeable in later grades, high school, or college when demands increase.
Writing
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Dysgraphia – Difficulties with handwriting (legibility, speed, spacing) and written expression (spelling, grammar, punctuation, organizing ideas).
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Other SLDs in Written Expression – Some students have legible handwriting but struggle to plan, structure, and express ideas (especially under time pressure). Writing is especially taxing when AD/HD, executive functioning differences, fine-motor, or visual-processing challenges are also present.
Mathematics
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Dyscalculia – Difficulties with number sense, math fact recall, calculations, and understanding mathematical concepts.
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Other SLDs in Math – Some students compute accurately but struggle with math reasoning, multi-step problem-solving, word problems, and interpreting graphs/diagrams.
Additional Areas We Screen for at NDC
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Differences in how the brain interprets and remembers spoken language, especially in noise. Can affect listening comprehension, following multi-step directions, reading, and spelling. Symptoms can overlap with SLDs, language disorders, and AD/HD but it is very rare. APD is diagnosed by an audiologist.
Visual Processing Differences
How the brain interprets visual information (not eyesight). May impact tracking across a page, distinguishing look-alike letters (b/d, p/q), spacing, aligning numbers, or reading symbols/graphs. In some cases, occupational therapy can address visual-motor or tracking issues. These challenges are distinct from dyslexia and other SLDs
The Complexity of Reading, Writing, and Math
Reading, writing, and math might look like single skills, but they are actually made up of many smaller skills that work together. If even one piece is less developed, the others can be harder to master. Understanding these layers helps explain why a child may excel in one subject but struggle in another—or why they may work much harder than expected just to keep up.
Reading – More Than “Sounding Out Words”
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Phonemic awareness – hearing and working with sounds in words.
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Phonics – linking sounds to letters.
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Fluency – smooth, accurate, expressive reading.
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Vocabulary – understanding word meanings.
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Comprehension – literal understanding and nonliteral/inferential meaning (reading between the lines, tone, humor, metaphor, symbolism).
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Additional contributors: rapid naming, working memory, processing speed, and visual processing. Persistent letter reversals (b/d, p/q) and tracking issues can signal visual processing or literacy-related challenges.
Writing – One of the Most Demanding Tasks
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Letter formation (fine motor)
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Spelling
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Grammar and punctuation
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Word choice and sentence structure
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Organizing ideas logically
And all of this requires attention and planning ahead.
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Real-world impact shows up in note-taking, timed essays, planning multi-paragraph responses, and staying organized through drafting and revision.
Math – Beyond Memorizing Facts
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Number sense
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Calculation
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Reasoning/problem-solving
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Memory for facts
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Spatial reasoning
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Language skills for word problems
Visual processing differences can make aligning numbers, reading symbols, or interpreting graphs and diagrams more difficult. Memorization alone isn’t enough—true mastery means understanding why a method works and applying it flexibly to new situations.
Why Reading Instruction Matters
Some children with difficulties in reading struggle because they haven’t received evidence-based instruction. Sold a Story explains how popular programs skipped key steps like phonemic awareness and systematic phonics, leading students to guess rather than decode.
Structured literacy — explicit, systematic teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension —
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Works for all students
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Is essential for dyslexia and related reading difficulties
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Builds skills in the right sequence so no key step is skipped
Helpful questions to ask your school:
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What reading program is used, and is it aligned with structured literacy?
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Is there daily phonemic awareness and phonics instruction? For how many minutes?
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How is progress monitored (which measures, how often) and what triggers tiered intervention?
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How much time per day/week is allocated to intervention, in what group size, and by which trained staff?
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How is fidelity to the program ensured (coaching/observation/checklists)?
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What is the plan if progress plateaus (program changes, intensity, or delivery)?
More learning for families: the Learn Smarter Podcast for practical strategies to support struggling learners.
General Tutoring vs. Educational Therapy
General tutoring can be very helpful for reinforcing classroom material, building confidence, and giving students extra practice. Tutors often review content in similar ways to how it was taught in school, which can be a great match for students who simply need more time, repetition, or encouragement.
Educational therapy/specialized instruction targets the underlying processing and skill gaps (e.g., phonological awareness, orthographic mapping, working memory) using research-based, explicit methods tailored to the learner’s profile—often a difference-maker for SLDs.
Questions to Ask When Considering Support for SLDs
If meeting with a tutor:
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How do you adjust your approach if my child doesn’t learn the material the first time?
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What strategies do you use to build confidence alongside skill practice?
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Do you collaborate with teachers to make sure support aligns with classroom expectations?
If meeting with an educational therapist/specialist:
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What training do you have in structured literacy or evidence-based interventions (e.g., Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Lindamood-Bell)?
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How do you assess and track progress in foundational skills like decoding, spelling, or working memory?
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How will you adapt instruction to my child’s specific learning profile (strengths and needs)?
Supporting Students at Home
These ideas are fun, low-stress add-ons—especially great for younger kids—and do not replace skilled, structured intervention. See all our Dyslexia / Reading & Writing Resources here for many more ideas.
Reading
(motivation + practice)
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Let them read anything they enjoy. Graphic novels are great for vocabulary, inference, and confidence.
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Play-based games: Mrs. Wordsmith, Squishyland (Fidget Games).
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Apps: Lexia.
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Read-alouds and audiobooks with print to build fluency and comprehension.
Writing
(voice + mechanics)
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Interest-driven writing: fan fiction, letters, comics, song lyrics.
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Creative writing classes on Outschool (including author-taught or pop-culture-themed classes).
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Handwriting Without Tears for support with letter formation.
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Co-write family newsletters or make-your-own storybooks.
Math
(concepts + application)
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Hands-on programs: RightStart Math, Beast Academy.
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Memory tools: Times Tales for multiplication facts.
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Real-life math: cooking, budgeting, building, logic/strategy board games.
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Board games like Sleeping Queens, Yahtzee, or Sum Swamp also build strategy and math fluency.