Current procedures for diagnosing perceptual and language deficits in academic underachievement have resulted in a categorical expression--learning disabilities. The contention is offered that learning disabilities so ascertained not constitute a diagnosable entity. Two features are described that could become central in a diagnosable entity…

Administered McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities to preschool children of normal intelligence with (n=25) and without (n=25) speech/language disorders. Speech/language disorders group had significantly lower scores on all scales except Motor; showed difficulty in short-term auditory memory skills but not in visual memory skills; and had…