Which scenario describes a student who fails the criteria for a Specific Learning Disability (SLD)?

• A. A student has poor reading comprehension but also struggles to form meaningful friendships.
• B. A student enjoys reading but performs significantly below average in reading comprehension.
• C. A student has above average mathematical reasoning but performs poorly in reading comprehension.
• D. A student has difficulty reading and writing but has severe Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Answer: (D)

The scenario where a student has difficulty reading and writing but has severe Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) illustrates a situation where the challenges faced by the student are primarily related to their disability rather than a specific learning disability (SLD). In this context, a Specific Learning Disability is characterized by issues in academic skills despite having adequate abilities in other areas.

When a student has a diagnosed condition like ASD, their difficulties can stem from a variety of factors associated with that condition, such as communication challenges and social interaction issues, which may not solely relate to a specific learning disability in areas like reading or writing. In such cases, the difficulties in reading and writing would likely be viewed in light of the broader impacts of the ASD, rather than meeting the specific criteria for an SLD, which requires that the learning difficulties emerge despite the student having the ability to perform adequately in other areas.

The other scenarios present cases where students are experiencing academic difficulties specifically tied to learning issues in reading comprehension or mathematical reasoning, without the overarching impact of a diagnosis like ASD, aligning more closely with the definition of Specific Learning Disabilities.