Symptoms of Learning Disabilities

LDA of America
Original URL: http://www.ldaamerica.org/aboutld/teachers/understanding/symptoms.asp
 
The symptoms of learning disabilities are a diverse set of characteristics which affect development and achievement. Some of these symptoms can be found in all children at some time during their development. However, a person with learning disabilities has a cluster of these symptoms which do not disappear as s/he grows older.

Most frequently displayed symptoms:

• Short attention span

• poor memory

• Difficulty following directions

• Inability to discriminate between/among letters, numerals, or sounds

• Poor reading and/or writing ability

• Eye-hand coordination problems; poorly coordinated

• Difficulties with sequencing

• Disorganization and other sensory difficulties

Other characteristics that may be present:

• Performs differently from day to day

• Responds inappropriately in many instances

• Distractible, restless, impulsive

• Says one thing, means another

• Difficult to discipline

• Doesn’t adjust well to change

• Difficulty listening and remembering

• Difficulty telling time and knowing right from left

• Difficulty sounding out words

• Reverses letters

• Places letters in incorrect sequence

• Difficulty understanding words or concepts

• Delayed speech development; immature speech