Final answer:
To diagnose a Specific Learning Disorder, there must be a significant discrepancy of about 1.5 to 2 standard deviations between IQ scores and academic performance, considering factors like severity and professional judgment.
Step-by-step explanation:
To diagnose a Specific Learning Disorder, there must be a difference of 1.5 to 2 standard deviations between IQ scores and academic performance. According to the American Psychiatric Association, a person who has a score approximately two standard deviations below the mean on an intelligence test (about 70 on a test with a mean of 100), has major deficits in adaptive functioning, and these cognitive and adaptive deficits were present before the age of 18, could be diagnosed as having an intellectual disability (ID).
For a formal diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorder, there isn't a universal cutoff in terms of standard deviation differences. However, clinical guidelines typically suggest that a significant discrepancy, often in the range of 1.5 to 2 standard deviations, between intellectual potential (IQ) and academic achievement is indicative of a learning disorder. This range considers various factors, including the severity of the discrepancy, the presence of other supportive information, and the professional judgment of the assessor.