Steer Study Method

What's the difference between a slow learner and a learning difficulty?

A slow learner is a child of below average intelligence, whose thinking skills are below normal for his/her age...

this child will go through the same basic developmentalstages as other children, but will do so at a significantly slower rate

However, this development, while being slower, nevertheless be relatively even. On the other hand, a child with specific learning disability, is one of average or above average intelligence who has specific difficulties which can make learning very difficult. There may be deficits in any of the basic central nervous system functions, which have to do with the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities. Their ability to pay attention, use memory, language, auditory and visual perception, motor coordination and planning, spatial orientation, impulse control and sequencing may be challenged.
In short, if there is a discrepancy between the child’s potential and actual achievement, it’s usually called a specific learning difficulty or disability. Slow learners will always be behind their chronological peers — which doesn’t mean they can’t be expected to improve. It just means it will be slow. Children with a specific learning disability can, with the right help, be expected to attain chronologically appropriate academic levels in time.
Some symptoms that may show learning disabilities or difficulties
•    Reading
Confuses similar words and letters, loses place, repeats words, does not read fluently, persists in using fingers to follow along, does not like to read.
•    Spelling: Uses incorrect order of letters in words, has difficulty of associating correct sound with appropriate letter, reverses letters.
•    Mathematics: Has difficulty associating numbers with symbols, cannot remember number facts, confuses columns and spacing, has difficulties with story problems, has difficulty comprehending maths concepts.
•    Physical: These vary widely but can include things such as: perceptual motor difficulties, visual perception difficulties, poor visual decoding, general coordination problems with things like balance and eye-hand issues, poor auditory memory and problems following sequence of directions, attention deficit
and lack of adequate eye movement control.
•    Psychological
These vary widely but can include things such as emotional instability (violent reactions), difficulty learning by ordinary methods, low social acceptance, low self-concept or self-esteem, general disorganisation.
•    Social, emotional and behavioural
These vary widely but can include things such as hyperactivity, hypo-activity (quiet, nervous, fidgety), impulsivity, poor concentration span, low frustration tolerance, emotional highs and lows and seems paradoxical, for example can recall events in minute detail but cannot remember number facts and spelling.