Specific learning disorder (dyslexia, dyscalculia)
- Disorder
A lasting difficulty with reading, writing or math that is not explained by intellectual disability.
What it is
Specific learning disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which a child has persistent trouble learning one or more academic skills, such as word reading, reading comprehension, written expression, number sense or calculation, well below what is expected. The difficulty lasts at least 6 months despite targeted help and is not explained by intellectual disability. It affects about 5 to 15 in 100 people worldwide, mostly in reading, and is diagnosed two to three times more often in boys; dyslexia is lifelong, but specialized teaching and compensatory strategies help.
Key facts
- Reading type: slow or inaccurate word reading, weaker reading comprehension and often problems with written language.
- Written expression type: messy handwriting, grammar and punctuation errors and poorly organized, unclear ideas.
- Mathematics type (dyscalculia): problems with number sense, calculation and mathematical problem-solving.
- Early signs include delayed speech, trouble rhyming and hesitation naming letters, pictures or colors; mild and moderate cases are usually noticed at school age.
- Heritability is high (roughly 40 to 70 percent), so a family history of reading problems raises risk.
- Poor self-esteem and behavior problems often accompany learning disorders.
Learning disorder subtypes and look-alikes
| Pattern | What is hard | Distinguishing point |
|---|---|---|
| Reading (dyslexia) | Slow or inaccurate reading, reading comprehension | Most common type; phonological processing problem |
| Written expression | Handwriting, grammar, punctuation, organizing ideas | Ideas on paper are unclear |
| Mathematics (dyscalculia) | Number sense, calculation, problem-solving | Difficulty centred on mathematics |
| ADHD | Attention, organization and finishing work in every subject | Problem is not limited to one academic skill |
| Intellectual disability | Learning in general plus everyday living skills | Low intellectual and adaptive functioning |
| Depression or anxiety | School performance falls | Mood or anxiety symptoms found on psychological evaluation |
Clinical notes
- Assessment combines cognitive, speech-language, educational, medical and psychological evaluations.
- The diagnosis rests on difficulties that persist despite targeted intervention, so record the help already given and how the child responded.
- Treatment is educational: specialized teaching of the weak skill, plus compensatory strategies such as audiobooks and digital note-taking.
- Look for and treat ADHD, anxiety and depression; stimulants may help a child attend to teaching, but medicines have little direct effect on academic achievement.
- Unproven remedies such as eliminating food additives, vitamin megadoses and optometric training are not recommended.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What is the core cognitive deficit in dyslexia?
A phonological processing deficit: difficulty linking speech sounds to letters and manipulating those sounds.
What duration and condition does DSM-5-TR require for specific learning disorder?
Difficulties that persist for at least 6 months despite targeted intervention, with skills well below age expectations.
Do stimulant medicines treat dyslexia?
No; medicines have little effect on academic achievement, though stimulants can improve attention in a child with ADHD; reading improves through specialized teaching.
Is a 6-year-old who writes b for d likely to have dyslexia?
Not on that basis alone; letter reversals are normal under about age 8.
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Educational content on behavior and the clinical relationship; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for assessment by a health professional. If you or someone near you is at risk, seek help now from an emergency service or a mental-health helpline.
Sources: Overview of Learning Disorders (MSD Manual Professional Edition, 2026); Dyslexia (MSD Manual Professional Edition, 2026).
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