| Understanding |
|
Differences | Difficulties | Delays | Deficits | Disabilities | Dysfunctions | Disorders |
 |
| Misunderstanding |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
Learning—Disorders
Diagnosticians and other professionals use this term to describe broad patterns of difficulties in areas that affect learning and performance in school, or other essential life activities. Students may be described as having an "attention disorder," a "learning disorder," or a "behavior disorder".
For example, testing may reveal that a student has difficulty in specific functions, such as retrieving words, constructing sentences, pronouncing words accurately, and organizing ideas. If the difficulties in these functions collectively express themselves in a broad area, such as "communication," a "communication disorder" may be diagnosed.
Professionals who use this term with students, parents, and teachers should remember that the common definitions of the word disorder are "lack of order," "confusion," and "disarray." For the layperson, one important connotation of the word disorder is that the identified problem is "abnormal" or "atypical." In other words, it is outside the range of variation or development that is considered normal or typical.