Specific Learning Disability – Dyslexia & Dyscalculia

1. Cognitive Effects

1.1. Difficulty with memory recall (Dyslexia: letter-sound association; Dyscalculia: number sense)

1.2. Trouble processing sequences (Dyslexia: spelling; Dyscalculia: mathematical operations)

1.3. Slower processing speed

1.4. Accommodation: Use of graphic organizers to structure information and scaffold learning (Shaywitz, 2020).

2. Linguistic Effects

2.1. Struggles with decoding and phonemic awareness (Dyslexia)

2.2. Difficulty understanding word problems (Dyscalculia)

2.3. Challenges with verbal explanations of math concepts

2.4. Accommodation: Provide audiobooks and text-to-speech software to support reading comprehension (Smith & Johnson, 2019).

3. Social & Emotional Effects

3.1. Anxiety and frustration related to academic tasks

3.2. Lower self-esteem due to repeated struggles

3.3. Avoidance of reading or math activities

3.4. Accommodation: Foster a growth mindset by providing positive reinforcement and allowing extra time for tasks (Brown, 2021).

4. Classroom Accomodations

4.1. Multi-sensory instruction (e.g., manipulatives for math, tracing words for reading)

4.2. Use of assistive technology (speech-to-text, number lines, calculators)

4.3. Clear, structured instructions with step-by-step breakdowns

4.4. Accommodation: Implement flexible assessment options (oral responses, project-based assessments) to demonstrate understanding (Williams, 2022).