March 2019 By

Specific Learning Disorder

Criterion A

Difficulties learning and using academic skills, as indicated by the presence of at least one of the following symptoms that have persisted for at least 6 months, despite the provision of interventions that target those difficulties:

  3. Difficulties with spelling (e.g., may add, omit, or substitute vowels or consonants).
  4. Difficulties with written expression (e.g., makes multiple grammatical or punctuation errors within sentences; employs poor paragraph organization; written expression of ideas lacks clarity).
  5. Difficulties mastering number sense, number facts, or calculation (e.g., has poor understanding of numbers, their magnitude, and relationships; counts on fingers to add single-digit numbers instead of recalling the math fact as peers do; gets lost in the midst of arithmetic computation and may switch procedures).
  6. Difficulties with mathematical reasoning (e.g., has severe difficulty applying mathematical concepts, facts, or procedures to solve quantitative problems).
Criterion B

The affected academic skills are substantially and quantifiably below those expected for the individual’s chronological age, and cause significant interference with academic or occupational performance, or with activities of daily living, as confirmed by individually administered standardized achievement measures and comprehensive clinical assessment. For individuals age 17 years and older, a documented history of impairing learning difficulties may be substituted for the standardized assessment.

Criterion C

The learning difficulties begin during school-age years but may not become fully manifest until the demands for those affected academic skills exceed the individual’s limited capacities (e.g., as in timed tests, reading or writing lengthy complex reports for a tight deadline, excessively heavy academic loads).

Criterion D


These four diagnostic criteria are to be met based on a clinical synthesis of the individual’s history (developmental, medical, family, educational), school reports, and psychoeducational assessment.

What's the Difference Between 'Specific' Learning Disorder vs. Learning Disorder vs. Learning Disability?

The term Specific Learning Disorder is a medical diagnosis, but is commonly referred to as a “learning disorder.” Learning disability is a term used by both the educational and legal systems in Western countries. A learning disability is not exactly the same as an individual with specific learning disorder. However, most individuals with a diagnosis of specific learning disorder will also meet criteria for a learning disability.