Specific Learning Difficulties and Processing Differences
Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (SLDs)
Specific Learning Difficulties is an umbrella term used to describe a range of learning differences that affect how people learn and process information. These include dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia .
SLDs are not related to effort, motivation or a learner’s potential. Learners with SLDs often find some aspects of learning require significantly more effort than others, despite trying hard and engaging in learning.
Many people with SLDs also demostrate strengths in areas such as creativity, problem-solving, practical thinking, innovation and seeing connections between ideas.
SLDs occur on a spectrum from mild to severe and runs in families. It is also common for more than one learning difference to occur together. For example, a person may have both dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Processing Differences
Processing differences affect how the brain receives, interprets and responds to information. The difficulty is not usually with a person’s eyesight or hearing, but with how the brain processes and makes sense of the information it receives.
Processing differences may involve:
- Visual processing – how the brain interprets and makes sense of visual information.
- Auditory processing– how the brain interprets and makes sense of spoken information and sounds.
- Processing speed – the time it takes to take in information, process it and respond.