What Is a Slow Learner?

Slow learners is a term that is sometimes used for low ability students, with IQ between 70 and 85. These individuals make up approximately 14.1% of the population, larger than the group of children with learning disabilities, mental retardation and autism combined. However, says Dr. Steven R. Shaw, they are rarely eligible for special education programs or community services, yet frequently do not have the skills to be successful in school or general society.

"Slow learners account for a disproportionate number of school dropouts, unwed teen mothers, illicit drug users, functionally illiterate persons, incarcerated persons, unemployed, underemployed, violent offenders, alcohol abusers, school failures, low scorers on group tests and gang and hate group members. In other words, slow learners can disproportionately account for nearly every major problem within education and society. For this extremely large and vitally important population, research is scarce and getting harder to find every year. There seems to be few large scale innovative educational or mental health programs for slow learners. Children with this diagnosis are probably far worse off than they were 30 years ago," says Dr. Shaw.