A student is diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia because of difficulty encoding and decoding language and performing mathematics calculations. According to IDEA, the student should be classified as having which of the following?

A student is diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia because of difficulty encoding and decoding language and performing mathematics calculations. According to IDEA, the student should be classified as having which of the following?

• A. Intellectual Disability
• B. Developmental Delay
• C. Specific Learning Disability
• D. Multiple Disabilities

Answer: (C)

Difficulties with decoding language and with performing math calculations point to problems with specific academic skills rather than overall intellectual functioning. Under IDEA, that pattern is classified as a Specific Learning Disability, which covers disorders that affect basic psychological processes involved in reading, writing, or math. Dyslexia and dyscalculia are classic examples of SLDs because they reflect targeted weaknesses in language decoding and mathematical calculation, respectively, even when overall intelligence and opportunities are typical. This differs from an Intellectual Disability, which involves broader limits in general cognitive functioning and adaptive skills; Developmental Delay, which is used for younger children with delays across multiple areas; and Multiple Disabilities, which involves two or more disabilities.

Difficulties with decoding language and with performing math calculations point to problems with specific academic skills rather than overall intellectual functioning. Under IDEA, that pattern is classified as a Specific Learning Disability, which covers disorders that affect basic psychological processes involved in reading, writing, or math. Dyslexia and dyscalculia are classic examples of SLDs because they reflect targeted weaknesses in language decoding and mathematical calculation, respectively, even when overall intelligence and opportunities are typical. This differs from an Intellectual Disability, which involves broader limits in general cognitive functioning and adaptive skills; Developmental Delay, which is used for younger children with delays across multiple areas; and Multiple Disabilities, which involves two or more disabilities.