Definitions+and+Prevalence+of+SLD

The term specific learning disability refers to one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, and affects a person's ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. Horowitz, S. (2005). Learning Disabilities: What they are and what they are not. //Children's Voice//. Retrieved from []
 * Basic Facts about Learning Disabilities **
 * LD does not include problems primarily due to visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, although students with such diagnoses can also have learning disabilities.
 * LD does not include problems that result primarily from mental retardation or emotional disturbance, although, again, children who experience such difficulties can also have learning disabilities.
 * LD does not include problems that result primarily from cultural, environmental, or economic disadvantage.
 * Learning disabilities are real! Although they often aren't observed until a child is doing school-related tasks, a proven biological basis for LD exists, including emerging data that document genetic links for LD within families.
 * LD is common, affecting an estimated 4%-6% of the public school population. And if you include individuals who, for a number of reasons, struggle with reading, the numbers are considerably higher.
 * Learning disabilities are lifelong. That said, individuals with LD can learn to compensate for areas of weakness and, with early, effective support, can be highly successful and productive members of society


 * Prevalence of Learning Disabilities **

Students with SLD represent the largest single disability area. Approximately 4.3% of all school age children are classified as having learning disabilities and 47.3% of the children receiving special education services in schools. About twice as many males as females are identified as having learning disabilities.


 * Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Definition of Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) **

Specific learning disability (SLD) means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or perform mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental aphasia. The term does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, motor disabilities, cognitive disabilities, emotional disturbance, cultural factors, environmental, or economic disadvantage. Retrieved January 6, 2012 from []

From the Federal Definition:

A child has a specific learning disability if-- (1) The child does not achieve adequately for the child's age or to meet State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the following areas, when provided with learning experiences and instrution appropriate for the child's age or State-approved grade-level standards: (i) Oral expression. (ii) Listening comprehension. (iii) Written expression. (iv) Basic reading skill. (v) Reading fluency skills. (vi) Reading comprehension. (vii) Mathematics calculation. (viii) Mathematics problem solving.

(2)The child does not make sufficient progress to meet age or State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the areas identified when using a process based on the child's response to scientific, research-based intervention; or

(3) The child exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement, or both, relative to age, State-approved grade-level standards, or intellectual development that are not primarily the result of-- (i) A visual, hearing, or motor disability; (ii) Mental retardation; (iii) Emotional disturbance; (iv) Cultural factors; (v) Environmental or economic disadvantage; or (vi) Limited English proficiency.

Retrieved January 6, 2012 from [|http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/sped/ldcriter.html]