# Dyslexia vs Specific Learning Disability in Children Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-dyslexia-reading-impairment-and-specific-learning-disability-in-children Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited Specific Learning Disability (SLD) is the broad umbrella term for children of normal intelligence who struggle to learn specific academic skills, while dyslexia is the reading-and-decoding type of SLD. Every child with dyslexia has an SLD, but SLD also includes writing (dysgraphia) and maths (dyscalculia) difficulties. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. *"Is it dyslexia or a learning disability?" — the truth is one lives inside the other, and understanding that lifts a great deal of worry.* ## In short Think of **Specific Learning Disability (SLD)** as the big umbrella, and **dyslexia** as one specific area beneath it. SLD is the broad term for children of normal intelligence who struggle to learn certain academic skills despite good teaching — this includes difficulties with reading, writing or maths. **Dyslexia is the reading and word-decoding type of SLD.** So every child with dyslexia has a specific learning disability, but not every child with an SLD has dyslexia — some struggle mainly with writing (dysgraphia) or maths (dyscalculia) instead. ## Understanding the difference Under the umbrella of **Specific Learning Disability**, the common areas are: - **Dyslexia — the reading type.** Difficulty recognising words, sounding them out, reading fluently and spelling, despite a bright and curious mind. It is about how the brain processes the *sounds* in language, not about intelligence or effort. - **Dysgraphia — the writing type.** Trouble forming letters, organising thoughts on paper, and spelling. - **Dyscalculia — the maths type.** Difficulty grasping number sense, counting, and arithmetic. A child can have one of these, or more than one together. The key thread across all SLDs is the same: a real, brain-based difference in learning a specific skill — alongside age-appropriate ability in other areas. This is *not* a reflection of how clever or hard-working a child is, and with the right support children make wonderful progress. ## When to seek a check Specific learning disabilities are usually recognised around **6 to 8 years**, once formal reading, writing and maths teaching is well underway — earlier than this, wide variation is completely normal. Seek a developmental check if your school-age child avoids reading or homework, reads far below their classmates, confuses similar letters or sounds long after peers have moved on, spells the same word differently each time, or finds simple sums unusually hard — especially if they are clearly bright in conversation and other activities. ## The Pinnacle way AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app, a checklist or this page. Our clinicians use a structured, clinician-administered [AbilityScore® assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) to map exactly *where* your child's learning differs, so support is precise rather than guesswork. From there, targeted [special education and learning support](/special-education) builds reading, writing or maths skills step by step. Explore more about how we [support your child's development](/). ## Trusted sources WHO ICD-11 (Developmental learning disorder, 6A03, with subtypes for reading, written expression and mathematics); American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) guidance on learning disabilities; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on language and literacy. **Next step —** Wondering where your child's reading or learning stands? [Book a learning assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/special-education). This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. ## Sources - WHO ICD-11 — Developmental learning disorder: https://icd.who.int - American Academy of Pediatrics — learning disabilities guidance: https://www.healthychildren.org - ASHA — language and literacy guidance: https://www.asha.org ## Connected topics and perspectives - Conditions: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/conditions - Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent - Adaptive: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/adaptive - Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support - Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen - Special Education: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/special-education - Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity ## Related question paths ### Understand the subject - Dyslexia vs Specific Learning Disability in Young Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-dyslexia-reading-impairment-and-specific-learning-disability-in-young-children - What is Specific Learning Disability?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-specific-learning-disability - How Specific Learning Disability Affects a Child's Daily Life: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-specific-learning-disability-affect-a-child-s-daily-life - Dysgraphia vs Specific Learning Disability in young children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-difference-between-dysgraphia-written-expression-impairment-and-specific-learning-disability-in-young-children ### Explore therapy & support - How do I know if my child has Dyslexia or a Specific Learning Disability?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-know-if-my-child-has-dyslexia-reading-impairment-or-specific-learning-disability - How common is Specific Learning Disability in children?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-common-is-specific-learning-disability-in-children