Johnson,

M Hayden #6

Specific Learning Disabilities

Disability-Specific Characteristic Matrix

Directions: Use a variety of resources to find and create lists of the common characteristics of students with each of these six disabilities.
Academic
Social and/or Behavioral
Physical
Possible Strengths
Characteristics
Characteristics
Characteristics
IDEA Description: A disorder in LDs often run in families.
Strong work ethic in
LD Children can prefer
one of more of the basic
Lerner (2000) identified 9 learning and
those capable of
outdoor and athletic
psychological processes involved
behavioral characteristics of LD
overcoming or building
pursuits interesting
in understanding or in using
individuals including:
compensation strategies
In middle grades they can
language, spoken or written, that
- Disorders of attention
display awkward, fist like
may manifest itself in the
(behavioral)
Material / spatial
or tight pencil grips
imperfect ability to listen think,
- Reading difficulties (academic)
reasoning
speak, read, write, spell or to do
- Poor motor
mathematical calculations,
- Written language difficulties
Empathy
including conditions such as
(academic)
perceptual disabilities, brain injury,
- Oral language difficulties
There is a high
minimal brain dysfunction,
- Social skills deficits
occurrence of LDs
dyslexia, and developmental
- Psychological process deficits
among successful
aphasia.
- Quantitative disorders
business people
Common LDs Include:
- Information processing problems
Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia,
http://www.naset.org/fileadmin/user
https://www.noodle.com/ar
Auditor and Visual Processing
_upload/LD_Report/Issue__3_LD_
ticles/strengths-of-peopleDisorders, Nonverbal Learning
Report_Characteristic_of_LD.pdf
with-learning-disabilities
Disabilites
LDonline.com

Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

Johnson, M Hayden #6

IDEA Description: A condition

exhibiting one of more of the
following characteristics over a
long period of time and to a
marked degree that adversely
affects a childs educational
performance:
a) An inability to learn that
cannot be explained by
intellectual, sensory or
health factors
b) An in ability to build or
maintain satisfactory
interpersonal relationships
with peers or teachers
c) Inappropriate types of
behavior or feelings under
normal circumstances
d) A general pervasive mood
of unhappiness or
depression
e) A tendency to develop
physical symptoms or fears
associated with personal or
school problems
This is also an umbrella category
that includes anxiety, bipolar,
conduct, ODD, and eating
disorders as well as OCD and
psychotic disorders.
Academic Characteristics:
Learning difficulties and
performing below grade level
http://www.ccbd.net/about/ebddefi
ntion

Hyperactivity
Aggression or self-injurious
behavior
Withdrawal
Immaturity including
inappropriate crying, temper
tantrums, and poor coping skiss

Potential signs of
cutting.
Physical impacts of
eating disorders

With affective
treatment, children
can develop
empathy for others
with emotional
disorders

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

(ADHD)

Johnson, M Hayden #6

Academic
Characteristics
Often seems inattentive to
details, makes frequent errors
in school work
Has difficulty sustaining
attention
May seem not to listen when
spoken to directly
Difficulty with "following
through"/ fails to complete
tasks
Has trouble organizing tasks and
activities
Avoids tasks requiring sustained
mental effort
Loses things necessary for tasks
Fidgets or squirms restlessly
Blurts out answers before
questions are completed

Social and/or Behavioral

Characteristics
May seem not to listen when spoken
to directly
Frequently forgets appointments or
other daily activities
Inability to engage in leisure activities
quietly
Often interrupts or intrudes on others
Is always "on the go"
Talks excessively
Is easily distracted by the
environment
https://www.smc.edu/StudentServices
/DisabilityResources/Pages/Comm
on-Characteristics-of-ADHD.aspx

Physical
Characteristics
Impulsive eating and
drinking habits
High energy

Possible Strengths

High levels of
creativity

Johnson, M Hayden #6

Communication Disorder
Speech / Language

IDEA definition: a communication

disorder such as stuttering,
impaired articulation, a language

impairment, or a voice impairment

that adversely affects a childs
educational performance.

Speech sound errors: Distortions,

substitutions, omissions and
additions
Speech disorders: Articulation
disorders, phonological disorders,
fluency disorders (stuttering &
clutter), voice disorders and
language impairment
Academic characteristics:
Inability to express ideas
Improper use of words and
their meaning
Repetition of sounds
Distortions of sounds
http://www.education.com/referenc
e/article/children-communicationdisorders/

Socially awkward and often a target

for bullying
Difficulty interacting with
classmates and
coworkers/colleagues
Often followed by learning and
psycho/social disorders.

http://www.childencyclopedia.com/languagedevelopment-and-literacy/accordingexperts/impact-language-developmentpsychosocial-and

Speech disabilities can often

be tied to physical
characteristics such as cleft lip
or palate, or vocal chord
damage from use/misuse.

GEO spacial skill

development

High-functioning Autism

Johnson, M Hayden #6

Academic
Characteristics
School-Related Skills:
Difficulty transitioning
from one activity to
another in school.
Difficulty with fine motor
activities (e.g., coloring,
printing, using scissors,
gluing).
Difficulty with reading
comprehension (e.g., can
quote an answer, but
unable to predict,
summarize or find
symbolism).
Excellent rote memory in
some areas.
Exceptionally high skills
in some areas and very
low in others.
Resistance or inability to
follow directions.
Short attention span for most
lessons.
http://www.myaspergerschil
d.com/2013/04/list-ofsymptoms-for-highfunctioning.html

Social and/or Behavioral

Characteristics
Social Skills:
Aversion to answering questions about
themselves.
Difficulty maintaining friendships.
Difficulty reading facial expressions and body
language.
Difficulty understanding group interactions.
Difficulty understanding jokes, figures of
speech or sarcasm.
Difficulty understanding the rules of
conversation.
Does not generally share observations or
experiences with others.
Finds it easier to socialize with people that are
older or younger, rather than peers of their
own age.
Gives spontaneous comments which seem to
have no connection to the current
conversation.
Makes honest, but inappropriate observations.
Minimal acknowledgement of others.
Overly trusting or unable to read the motives
behinds peoples actions.
Resistance to being held or touched.
Responds to social interactions, but does not
initiate them.
Seems unable to understand anothers feelings.
Unaware of/disinterested in what is going on
around them.
Very little or no eye contact.

Physical
Characteristics
Health and Movement:
Allergies and food sensitivities.
Apparent lack of concern for
personal hygiene (e.g., hair,
teeth, body odor).
Appearance of hearing
problems, but hearing has
been checked and is fine.
Constipation.
Difficulty changing from one
floor surface to another (e.g.,
carpet to wood, sidewalk to
grass).
Difficulty moving through a
space (e.g., bumps into
objects or people).
Frequent gas, burping or
throwing up.
Incontinence of bowel and/or
bladder.
Irregular sleep patterns.
Odd or unnatural posture (e.g.,
rigid or floppy).
Seizure activity.
Unusual gait.
Walks on toes.
Walks without swinging arms
freely.

Possible
Strengths
Can be very
focused on
positive
outcomes
(getting
answers
correct, etc)
Very neat
handwriting

Other Health Impairments &

Orthopedic Impairments (skeletal & muscular)

Johnson, M Hayden #6

Academic Characteristics

Social and Behavioral Characteristics

Physical Characteristics

IDEA Definition: a severe

orthopedic impairment that
adversely affects a childs
educational performance
including impairments
caused by a congenital
anomaly, impairments
caused by disease, and
impairments from other
causes.

If sudden onset, shock, denial and depression can

be prevalent in a similar form to other major life
losses.

Of course, the specific disability

will include its physical
manefestations which can impact
the following challenges

Non-accessible
transportation
Trouble maneuvering
around the classroom
Physical imparements can
put pressure on school
attendance
Physical pain can often be
associated with physical
impairments (rhuemetoid
arthritis, for example)
which can affect school
preformance
Communicating
effectively
http://link.springer.com/artic
le/10.1007%2FBF02578392
#page-1
http://www.specialeducation
guide.com/disabilityprofiles/orthopedicimpairments/

Often children with physical impairments can feel

isolation due to lack of ability to interact and play
with other children in typical ways.
Reduced play skills with peers.

Trouble maneuvering around

the classroom
Difficulty navigating school
hallways and facilities
Students can have challenges
moving
Earning mandated physical
education credit can be a
challenge

Possible
Strengths
Can lead to
increased focus
on intellectual
areas