Common signs and characteristics of a Learning Disability
No adult will show all of these characteristics. However, an adult with a learning disability may show one or more of these characteristics for a prolonged period of time.
- Difficulty reading,spelling
- inability to complete a job application
- cannot follow written direction and/or remember verbal directions.
- Problem putting thoughts on paper
- difficulty finding and keeping a job
- excellent verbal ability with good sentence structure, but cannot express thoughts on paper
- cannot organize belongings, time activities or responsibilities
- short attention span, restlessness or hyperactivity
- difficulty understanding appropriate social behaviour
- confusion between up and down, left and right, gets lost easily
- arrives late or unusually early for appointments
- difficulty doing accurate numerical calculations
Warning Signs of Learning Disabilities
in Preschool Children
Although children's growth patterns vary among individuals and within individuals, uneven development or significant delays in development can signal the presence of LD. It is important to keep in mind that the behaviours listed below must persist over time to be considered warning signs. Any child may occasionally exhibit one or two of these behaviours in the course of normal development.
Language
- Slow development in speaking words or sentences
- Pronunciation problems
- Pronunciation problems
- Difficulty leaning new words
- Difficulty following simple directions
- Difficulty rhyming words
- Lack of interest in story telling
Motor Skills
- Clumsiness
- Poor Balance
- Difficulty manipulating small objects
- Awkwardness with running, jumping or climbing
- Trouble learning to tie shoes, button shirts, or perform other self-help activities
- Avoidance of drawing or tracing
Cognition
- Trouble memorizing
- Poor memory for what should be routine (everyday) procedures
- Difficulty with cause and effect; sequencing, and counting
- Difficulty with basic concepts such as size, shape and colour
Attention
- High distractibility
- Impulsive behaviour
- Unusual restlessness' (hyperactivity)
- Difficulty staying on task
- Difficulty changing activities
- Constant repetition of ideas, inability to move on to a new idea (perseveration)
Social Behaviour
- Trouble interacting with others, playing alone
- Prone to sudden and extreme mood changes
- Easily frustrated
- Hard to manage, has temper tantrums
Because early intervention is so important, federal law requires that school districts provide early identification and intervention services. The special education department of the local school district can direct families to the agency that provides these services. Families may also want to consult the child's doctor, who should also be able to refer the family to appropriate resources.
Warning Signs in Elementary School Children
It is during the elementary school years that learning problems frequently become apparent as disabilities interfere with increasingly demanding and complex learning tasks. Difficulties in learning academic subjects and emotional and/or social skills may become a problem. Warning signs for this age-group may include any of those for preschool children in addition to the following:
Language
- Slow learning of the correspondence of sound to letter
- Consistent errors in reading or spelling
- Difficulty remembering basic sight words
- Inability to retell a story in sequence
- Trouble with learning to tell time or count money
- Confusion of math signs
- Transposition of number sequences
- Trouble memorizing math facts
- Trouble with place value
- Difficulty remembering the steps of mathematical operations such as long division
Motor Skills
- Poor coordination, or awkwardness
- Difficulty copying from chalkboard
- Difficulty aligning columns (math)
- Poor handwriting
Attention/Organization
- Difficulty concentrating on focusing on a task
- Difficulty finishing work on time
- Inability to follow multiple directions
- Unusual sloppiness, carelessness
- Poor concept of direction (left, right)
- Rejection of new concepts or changes in routine
Social Behaviour
- Difficulty understanding facial expressions or gestures
- Difficulty understanding social situations
- Tendency to misinterpret behaviour of peers and/or adults
- Apparent lack of "common sense
If teachers have not discussed the possibility of an evaluation already, the parents may request that the child's school conduct a formal evaluation. A request submitted to the school principal must be honored by the school system in a timely manner.
Warning Signs in Secondary School Children
Some learning disabilities go undetected until secondary school. Physical changes occurring during adolescence and the increased demands of middle and senior high school may bring the disabilities to light. Previously satisfactory performance declines. Inappropriate social skills may lead to changes in peer relationships and discipline problems. Increased frustration and poor self-concepts can lead to depression and or angry outbursts. Warning signs of learning disabilities in secondary school students include the following, which occur in a pattern of behaviours, to a significant degree, and over time.
Language and Mathematics
- Avoidance of reading and writing
- Tendency to misread information
- Difficulty summarizing
- Poor reading comprehension
- Difficulty understanding subject area textbooks
- Trouble with open-ended questions
- Continued poor spelling
- Poor grasp of abstract concepts
- Poor skills in writing essays
- Difficulty in learning a foreign language
- Poor ability to apply math skills
Attention/Organization
- Difficulty staying organized
- Trouble with test formats such as multiple choice
- Slow work pace in class and in testing situations
- Poor note taking skills
- Poor ability to proofread or double check work
Social Behaviour
- Difficulty accepting criticism
- Difficulty seeking or giving feedback
- Problems negotiating or advocating for oneself
- Difficulty resisting peer pressure
- Difficulty understanding another person's perspectives
Again, parents have the right to request an evaluation by the public schools to determine if the student has learning problems.
Summary
Research has shown that the sooner LD is detected and intervention is begun, the better the chance to avoid school failure and to improve chances for success in life. When parents or teachers suspect a child has learning disabilities, they should seek an evaluation.
ERIC DIGEST #E603
Educational Resources Information Center
ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education, Arlington, VA.
Author: Susan Bergen
Publication Date: 2000-12-00
