{"h1":"Types and Levels of Specific Learning Disability","faq":[{"a":"ICD-11 describes three main types of developmental learning disorder, grouped by the skill affected: reading (dyslexia), written expression (dysgraphia) and mathematics (dyscalculia). A child can have one or more than one.","q":"How many types of Specific Learning Disability are there?"},{"a":"Rather than fixed levels, each type is described by severity — mild, moderate or severe — based on how much extra teaching or support a child needs to keep pace.","q":"Does Specific Learning Disability have levels?"},{"a":"It is usually recognised around ages 6–8, once formal academic learning is well underway and difficulties can be seen to persist despite ordinary teaching and good effort.","q":"At what age can Specific Learning Disability be identified?"},{"a":"Dyslexia is one type of Specific Learning Disability — the one affecting reading. SLD also includes difficulties with written expression and with mathematics.","q":"Is dyslexia the same as Specific Learning Disability?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-specific-learning-disability","title":"What are the types or levels of Specific Learning Disability?","entity":{"key":"sld","kind":"condition","name":"Specific Learning Disability","slug":"specific-learning-disability"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Cognitive","value":"cognitive"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Definition","value":"definition"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-specific-learning-disability-diagnosed-in-a-child","title":"How is Specific Learning Disability diagnosed in a child?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-dyslexia-reading-impairment-and-specific-learning-disability-in-children","title":"Dyslexia vs Specific Learning Disability in Children"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-specific-learning-disability","title":"Early Signs of Specific Learning Disability"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-specific-learning-disability","title":"What is Specific Learning Disability?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-common-is-specific-learning-disability-in-children","title":"How common is Specific Learning Disability in children?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-specific-learning-disability-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Specific Learning Disability, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?"}],"summary":"Specific Learning Disability (ICD-11 developmental learning disorder, 6A04) is grouped by the affected skill — reading (dyslexia), written expression (dysgraphia) and mathematics (dyscalculia) — and described by severity as mild, moderate or severe rather than fixed levels. A child may have one type or several together, usually recognised around ages 6–8.","answer_md":"*\"Is it just dyslexia, or are there different kinds?\" — it's one of the first things parents ask, and the answer brings real clarity.*\n\n## In short\nSpecific Learning Disability isn't a single thing — it describes a group of brain-based differences in how a child learns specific academic skills, despite ordinary teaching and good effort. The WHO's ICD-11 groups these as **developmental learning disorder (6A04)** with three main types: difficulty with **reading** (often called dyslexia), with **written expression** (dysgraphia), and with **mathematics** (dyscalculia). Rather than \"levels\", these are described by **severity** — mild, moderate or severe — based on how much support a child needs to keep pace. A child can have one type or more than one together.\n\n## The three types, simply\n- **Reading (dyslexia):** trouble with accurate or fluent word reading, decoding sounds, or understanding what's read — even when the child is bright and trying hard.\n- **Written expression (dysgraphia):** difficulty with spelling, grammar, punctuation, or organising ideas clearly on the page; handwriting may be effortful too.\n- **Mathematics (dyscalculia):** difficulty with number sense, learning maths facts, or accurate, fluent calculation and reasoning.\n\nInstead of fixed \"levels\", clinicians describe each as **mild, moderate or severe** — a practical way of saying how much extra teaching or accommodation a child needs. Importantly, SLD is identified only when difficulties are well below what's expected for the child's age, persist over time, and aren't better explained by vision or hearing issues, lack of schooling, or another condition. This is why it's usually recognised around **ages 6–8**, once formal academic learning is well underway.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an article or an app. Our team looks at the whole picture of how your child reads, writes, calculates and learns, then builds a plan around their strengths. Explore [Specific Learning Disability support](/specific-learning-disability), our [special education and learning support](/special-education), and [how the AbilityScore® works](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 classifies developmental learning disorder (6A04) by the affected skill — reading, written expression and mathematics. The CDC and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics emphasise that learning differences are best identified once formal schooling begins, with severity guiding the level of support a child needs.\n\n**Next step —** Wondering whether your child's learning struggles need a closer look? [Book a developmental screen with a Pinnacle clinician](/specific-learning-disability).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-specific-learning-disability","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-specific-learning-disability","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-specific-learning-disability-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Types of Specific Learning Disability","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Keep a simple note of where learning feels hardest for your child — reading aloud, spelling, or maths homework. These everyday patterns help a clinician see the full picture quickly.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:28:00.07239+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-specific-learning-disability","title":"What is Specific Learning Disability?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-specific-learning-disability-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Specific Learning Disability, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-specific-learning-disability-affect-a-child-s-daily-life","title":"How Specific Learning Disability Affects a Child's Daily Life","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-specific-learning-disability-considered-a-disability","title":"Is Specific Learning Disability considered a disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-specific-learning-disability-genetic-or-hereditary","title":"Is 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time.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11","code":"6A04","label":"WHO ICD-11 · Developmental learning disorder"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early."},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:28:00.07239+00:00","meta_description":"The types of Specific Learning Disability — reading, writing and maths — explained simply, with mild, moderate and severe levels and when to seek a screen.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}