Childhood Psychopathology
Chapter 7
Specific Learning Disorders
*Basic Definition
*Specific Learning Disorder (LD): is characterized by a statistically significant discrepancy
between aptitude (IQ) and aca demic achievement, that is caused by a developmental
neuropsychological impairment.
*Typically, individuals manifest 1 or 2 specific LD’s
*National joint committee on learning disabilities
*Learning Disability (LD) is a generic term that refers to a heterogenous group of
disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening,
speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, mathematical abilities, or social skills
*These disorders are intrinsic to the individual and presumed to be due to central
nervous system dysfunction
*A LD cannot be the direct result of intellectual issues (e.g., ID), socioenvironmental
disturbances (e.g., emotional disorders, inappropriate instruction), or ADHD
*DSM-5 Criteria
*All learning disorders can be found in DSM-5 under the section, “Neurodevelopmental
Disorders”. They are careful to state, however, that some of the disorders listed under
this section are sometimes not diagnosed until adulthood
*According to DSM-5, a lack of opportunity, poor teaching, or cultural factors preclude
the diagnosis
*Three main assumptions in LD diagnosis
1. Specificity: the learning problem is specific generally confined to one or two cognitive
areas
2. IQ-Achievement Discrepancy: the individual’s achievement is not commensurate with
his/her ability (WAIS) or chronological age [DSM diagnosis]
3. Exclusionary Criteria: the learning difficulty is not a result of some other condition
*Prevalence of learning disabilities
*5-15% of general population (APA, 2013)
Chapter 7
Specific Learning Disorders
*Basic Definition
*Specific Learning Disorder (LD): is characterized by a statistically significant discrepancy
between aptitude (IQ) and aca demic achievement, that is caused by a developmental
neuropsychological impairment.
*Typically, individuals manifest 1 or 2 specific LD’s
*National joint committee on learning disabilities
*Learning Disability (LD) is a generic term that refers to a heterogenous group of
disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening,
speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, mathematical abilities, or social skills
*These disorders are intrinsic to the individual and presumed to be due to central
nervous system dysfunction
*A LD cannot be the direct result of intellectual issues (e.g., ID), socioenvironmental
disturbances (e.g., emotional disorders, inappropriate instruction), or ADHD
*DSM-5 Criteria
*All learning disorders can be found in DSM-5 under the section, “Neurodevelopmental
Disorders”. They are careful to state, however, that some of the disorders listed under
this section are sometimes not diagnosed until adulthood
*According to DSM-5, a lack of opportunity, poor teaching, or cultural factors preclude
the diagnosis
*Three main assumptions in LD diagnosis
1. Specificity: the learning problem is specific generally confined to one or two cognitive
areas
2. IQ-Achievement Discrepancy: the individual’s achievement is not commensurate with
his/her ability (WAIS) or chronological age [DSM diagnosis]
3. Exclusionary Criteria: the learning difficulty is not a result of some other condition
*Prevalence of learning disabilities
*5-15% of general population (APA, 2013)
