It is estimated that some 15-20% of people have some form of learning disability. Early detection and intervention drastically increases a child’s ability to succeed in school and life.
Learning disabilities are genetic. So, if you or someone in your family struggles with learning, then your child’s chances for having a learning disorder are increased.
One of the first signs of a possible learning disability is delayed speech. Generally, children begin to say their first words at about a year old and first phrases by 18 months to 2 years old.
Once a child does begin to speak, trouble with pronunciation past the age of 5 or 6 is also a warning sign. Leaving off beginning or ending sounds or mixing up consonant sounds in a word (i.e., aminal instead of animal) are examples of the kinds of mispronunciation you should be concerned about.
Other early signs of a learning disability are:
- difficulty following instructions or sticking to routines
- trouble with fine motor skills, coordination
- trouble learning colors, numbers, alphabet, shapes
- trouble interacting with peers
- difficulty with rhymes
- inability to find just the right word for what they want to say
- restless, easily distracted or can’t finish projects
- acts on impulse or has difficulty planning actions
- unaware of how much time has passed, seems "zoned out" often
- sloppy handwriting (despite much practice)
- seems overly upset when he or she can’t perform certain tasks (i.e., cries when he can’t name a color or gets frustrated when she’s asked to make a choice)
Signs to look for in older children:
- complains of fatigue or headaches when concentrating heavily on tasks like reading or math problems
- avoidance of reading (especially aloud), writing, or other required tasks in school
- older than age 7 or 8 and still reverses letters or letter sequences (mistakes b for d or saw for was), makes substitutions in reading (says like instead of lake), inverts letters (mistakes m for w), or seems to guess at the words on the page.
- acts out or becomes the class clown
- has difficulty remembering facts in math or other subjects
- has trouble understanding body language or facial expressions
- has trouble maintaining a conversation or staying on topic
- seems awkward around peers or has trouble making friends
- has a poor grasp on abstract ideas or concepts
- has difficulty adjusting to changes
- works slowly
If you child demonstrates more than a few of these signs, you may wish to have him or her evaluated. The earlier you detect a learning disorder and enact an intervention program, the better chance your child will have at coping with the disorder and overcoming the obstacles it may present.
One thing that must be emphasized above all is that no matter what, your child is special and has strengths that define who he or she is. Encourage those strengths and your child will succeed. Allow your child to explore his or her talents, and you can be sure that if your child has a learning disability, it will not impede his or her ability to achieve success in school and in life.