Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide
Specific Learning Disorder
DEFINITION
- Specific learning disorder (SLD) is a group of neurobiologically based neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
- Reasoning
- Mathematical abilities
- Specific learning disorder is classified under the Neurodevelopmental Disorders section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)[1].
- The key feature is difficulties learning and using academic skills, despite interventions being put in place to target those difficulties.
- The difficulties may include: inaccurate or slow and effortful word reading; difficulty understanding the meaning of what is read; difficulties with spelling, written expression, mathematical reasoning; difficulties mastering number sense, number facts, or calculation.
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Last updated: October 3, 2025
Citation
Adnane, Lydia, et al. "Specific Learning Disorder." Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2025. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787037/all/Specific_Learning_Disorder.
Adnane L, Ostrander R, Mahone EM. Specific Learning Disorder. Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787037/all/Specific_Learning_Disorder. Accessed October 31, 2025.
Adnane, L., Ostrander, R., & Mahone, E. M. (2025). Specific Learning Disorder. In Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787037/all/Specific_Learning_Disorder
Adnane L, Ostrander R, Mahone EM. Specific Learning Disorder [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. [cited 2025 October 31]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787037/all/Specific_Learning_Disorder.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Specific Learning Disorder
ID - 787037
A1 - Adnane,Lydia,M.D.
AU - Ostrander,Rick,Ed.D.
AU - Mahone,E.,Ph.D., ABPP
Y1 - 2025/10/03/
BT - Johns Hopkins Psychiatry Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_Psychiatry_Guide/787037/all/Specific_Learning_Disorder
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
