SPECIFIC
LEARNING
DISABILITIES
Ivana Marova, Ph.D.
DEFINITION OF SLD
„Learning disabilities is a general term that refers to a
heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by
significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of
listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or
mathematical abilities.“
National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities
Definition of Learning Disabilities, 2016
DEFINITION OF SLD 1
DEFINITION OF SLD 2
The term “learning disabilities”, sometimes referred
to as specific learning disabilities, is an umbrella
term that covers a range of neurologically based
disorders in learning and various degrees of
severity of such disorders. Predecessor terms
include: minimal brain damage and minimal brain
dysfunction.
Learning Disability Association of America, 2020
DEFINITION OF
SLD
Learning disabilities may manifest as
difficulty:
1. Processing information by visual and
auditory, means, which may impact
upon reading, spelling, writing, and
understanding or using language,
2. Prioritizing, organizing, doing
mathematics, and following
instructions,
3. Storing or retrieving information from
short or long term memory,
4. Using spoken language
5. Clumsiness or difficulty with
handwriting.
DEFINITION OF SLD
„Although learning disabilities may occur concomitantly with other
disabilities (for example, sensory impairment, intellectual disabilities,
emotional disturbance), or with extrinsic influences (such as cultural
or linguistic differences, insufficient or inappropriate instruction),
they are not the result of those conditions or influences.“
National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities Definition of
Learning Disabilities, 2016
Learning Disabilities (Kirk 1963)
„Specific learning disabilities means inability to learn how
to read, write or calculate while using standard teaching
methods, an adequate socio-cultural opportunity and an
average intellect.“
Jucovičová & Žáčková, 2014
DEFINITION OF SLD – CZECH DEFINITION
WHAT DOES SLD INCLUDE?
TYPES OF SLD
INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL
Diagnostics and management of Developmental Coordination Disorder
Dysgraphia
Dysortographia
Dyspinxia
Dyslexia
Dysmusia/
Amusia
Dyscalculia
Dyspraxia
ADDADHD
PREVALENCE
OF SLD
Internationally
 10 % in overall
population
Czech Republic
 2 – 4 children in
100
(2 – 4 %)
https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=v2W9vuqI27U
ETIOLOGY OF SLD
Etiological factors:
 Central nervous system dysfunction
 Minimal brain damage; Minimal brain dysfunction
 Heredity (Dyslexia)
 Combination of heredity and central
nervous system dysfunction
 Phonetic difficulties + phonological
memory
 Social causes
 Neurotic aetiology
 Unidentified cause
ASSOCIATED DIFFICULTIES
Problems in self-regulatory behaviors
Problems in social perception (self-esteem)
Difficulties in social interaction
Difficulties in motor skills development
Lack of sense for humor
Difficulties in spatial orientation