For instance, synthesizing specific ideas into a thesis statement for a composition might be difficult for these students. Academic Disabilities Often learning disabilities are described in terms of the specific academic domain that is affected. Dyslexia refers to reading deficits, which can range from problems in decoding words, to remembering what has been read, to analyzing more abstract thought. It should be noted here that dyslexia does not refer to reading problems that are the result of inadequate or inappropriate schooling, lack of intelligence, or insufficient time on task. Dyslexic students can be taught strategies to make the most of their current reading skills and to cope with their limitations, but the basic decoding or comprehension difficulties are likely to remain stable.
Dyscalculia refers to difficulties in using numbers and math functions.
Students may have problems with recognizing and remembering symbols, understanding spatial relationships, aligning numbers, and performing operations. Dysgraphia is the term used for students who have great difficulty with the psychomotor skills needed for writing. Such students are likely to have special problems with taking notes in class and in writing essay exams. Writing deficits often are first noted in a student's spelling. Some students with learning disabilities find phonics to be particularly troublesome.