SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES Ivana Marova, Ph.D. DEFINITION OF SLD Individuals with Disability Act – IDEA (1975) Specific Learning Disability ''(A) IN GENERAL  The term 'specific learning disability' means a disorder in 1 or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations." ''(B) DISORDERS INCLUDED  Such term includes such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia." ''(C) DISORDERS NOT INCLUDED  Such term does not include a learning problem that is primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage." 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 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 SLD TYPES TYPES OF SLD INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL Dysgraphia Dysortographia Dyspinxia Dyslexia Dysmusia/ Amusia Dyscalculia Dyspraxia PREVALENCE OF SLD PREVALENCE OF SLD Internationally  10 % in overall population Czech Republic  2 – 4 children in 100 (2 – 4 %) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2W9vuqI27U Prevalence of SLD PREVALENCE OF SLD Support measures – 5 level system •In 2017/2018 – 74 872 elementary school pupils with granted support measures •1st level – 15 373; 2nd level – 29 945; 3rd level – 23 249 •In the school year 2017/2018 - 926 108 elementary school pupils • 43 086 with severe specific learning disabilities – 4,7 % • 1 395 in special classes and 41 691 in mainstream classes •In the school year 2007/2008 – 844 863 elementary school pupils •36 988 pupils with severe specific learning disabilities – 4,3 % •892 in special classes and 36 096 in mainstream school ETIOLOGY OF SLD ETIOLOGY OF SLD Etiological factors:  Central nervous system dysfunction  Minimal brain injury  Heredity (Dyslexia)  Combination of heredity and central nervous system dysfunction  Phonetic difficulties + phonological memory  Social causes  Neurotic etiology  Unidentified cause ASSOCIATED DIFFICULTIES 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 Difficulties in communication SUMMARY ▪ Write two things you have remembered from todays' lecture and pass it to colleague on your right ▪Summary ▪Specific Learning Disabilities – definition ▪Specific Learning Disabilities – terms, which are used ▪Prevalence of Specific Learning Disabilities ▪Etiology of Specific Learning Disabilities ▪Associated difficulties ▪Face-to-face lesson – 10st of December ▪Wos; Scopus – Review