Michael McDowell
Specific learning disability
University of Queensland
specific learning disabilities sld impact discrete areas academic function result level difficulty unexpected considered context students overall intellectual academic competence common example dyslexia sld affects acquisition literacy medical professionals important role play evaluation management sld medical role founded fact conditions biologically based potential cause significant harm developing child even details biological causation possible demonstrate individual children medical professionals may nevertheless make important judgement call regarding likelihood aetiology learning problems medically based clearly unreasonable expect children able learn faster reasonable advocacy around biological presumptions implications major contribution wellbeing children sld