Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)

Specific learning difficulties

The child with specific learning difficulties can be hard to spot. Often, intelligent and articulate it is their own sense of frustration that is frequently the first clue.

'Specific learning difficulties’ (SpLD) is an umbrella term to cover a number of problems: dyslexia (reading and writing), dyscalculia (maths), dyspraxia (co-ordination), dysgraphia (writing).

Some children with specific learning difficulties may exhibit behavioural difficulties, though frequently these diminish when the child receives appropriate help and support with a subsequent growth in confidence and self-esteem.

Specific learning difficulties - where to start

Children may have difficulties in just one of these areas – a purely dyscalculic child will stumble only with numbers and may excel in non-mathematical subjects – but it is not uncommon for a dyslexic pupil to have difficulties in some areas of maths, most likely in number, or to have some co-ordination difficulties. Difficulties with numeracy are often accompanied by the language difficulties of dyslexia.

Dyslexia - the dyslexic child may avoid reading or devour books a plenty; so how do you spot dyslexia?

Dyspraxia - is your child clumsy? Do they invade your space? Is their handwriting an embarrassment? Are ball games a chore?

Dyscalculia - is learning multiplication tables a cause of nightly rows? Do you, or your partner, shy away from anything numerical or mathematical?

Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia (DVD) - does your child have difficulty making consistent speech sounds? Do they quickly forget new vocabulary?

Dysgraphia - handwriting issues? Does producing even vaguely legible copy tire your child?

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