Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. History of the Field
3. Classification, Definition, and Identification of Learning Disabilities
4. Assessment of Learning Disabilities
5. Reading Disabilities: Word Recognition
6. Reading Disabilities: Fluency
7. Reading Disabilities: Comprehension
8. Mathematics Disabilities
9. Written Expression Disabilities
10. Conclusions and Future Directions

About the Author

Jack M. Fletcher, PhD, is a Distinguished University Professor of Psychology at the University of Houston. His research interests focus on learning disabilities and brain injury in children, including definition and classification, neurobiological correlates, and intervention. He currently is Principal Investigator of a Learning Disability Research Center grant funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). He was the 2003 recipient of the Samuel T. Orton Award from the International Dyslexia Association.

G. Reid Lyon, PhD, is the Executive Vice President for Research and Evaluation at Best Associates and Whitney International University, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Prior to joining Best Associates, Dr. Lyon served as a research psychologist and the Chief of the Child Development and Behavior Branch within the NICHD, where he was responsible for the direction of research programs in developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral pediatrics, reading, and learning disorders. His research focuses on evidence-based education and learning differences and disabilities in children.

Lynn S. Fuchs, PhD, is Nicholas Hobbs Professor of Special Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University, where she also codirects the Kennedy Center Reading Clinic. Her research focuses on classroom-based assessment as well as instructional methods for students with reading disabilities and math disabilities.

Marcia A. Barnes, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology and University Research Chair at the University of Guelph and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include the study of math and reading comprehension disabilities in children with and without brain injuries.

Reviews

'A sophisticated and up-to-date analysis of current research findings on major forms of learning disability ... The 10 recommendations for research and practice in the final chapter are among the best summaries of their kind I've ever seen. Overall, the book is a direct reflection of the authors' broad and deep experience in the field. These are individuals who have grappled with the most fundamental issues about learning disabilities throughout their careers, and whose clarity of writing and understanding is unsurpassed.' - "Joseph K. Torgesen, PhD, Department of Psychology and Florida Center for Reading Research, Florida State University, USA " 'This book delineates the importance of using scientific evidence as a basis for conceptualizing the construct of LDs, guiding the development of interventions, and informing federal educational legislation. The authors also offer an agenda for future research that will further the important integration of research, practice, and policy. This book will be essential reading for researchers, educators, and policymakers. I recommend it highly as a text for graduate-level courses in special education, instruction, and educational policy.' - "Joanna P. Williams, PhD, Teachers College, Columbia University, USA" 'This up-to-date book will make a key contribution to graduate training and professional practice. As a text, it will be extremely useful for courses on learning disabilities and on academic skills assessment and intervention, particularly those that address response-to-intervention approaches.' - "Thomas R. Kratochwill, PhD, School Psychology Program, Educational and Psychological Training Center, and Wisconsin Center for Education Research, University of Wisconsin--Madison, USA" 'This is simply the best and most comprehensive and systematic overview of the field of learning disabilities to date. It is easily accessible to educators, psychologists, and medical practitioners serving or trying to understand children with learning disabilities. The authors take complex concepts that are not yet fully formed or articulated by the field, such as response to intervention, and do a remarkable job explaining them and evaluating their research evidence. Moreover, the authors summarize years of research and thinking about various learning disabilities in a concise, comprehensive manner characterized by both depth of understanding and elegance of communication. The book is authoritative but not authoritarian, inquiring but not admonishing: It represents the field of learning disabilities research and practice in its attempt to change and improve itself. If you are looking for an accurate, informed, and cohesive interpretation of the field today, this is it!' - "Elena L. Grigorenko, PhD, Child Study Center, Yale University, USA "