Learning Disabilities: Recognizing the Signs
The Fall semester is in full-swing! Your kids are probably bringing home textbooks, homework, and maybe even progress reports at this point in the semester. If you’ve noticed your child falling behind in school, there may be underlying issues. Here’s how to recognize the signs of learning disabilities:
Problems with reading, writing, or math
Some of the most common learning disabilities include dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. These are disabilities that affect one’s ability to read, write, and perform basic mathematical functions.
Children with dyslexia may have speech delays, difficulty with reading comprehension, or commonly reverse the position of letters. Children with dysgraphia may have difficulty holding writing utensils correctly, writing legibly, or expressing their thoughts in full sentence structure. Children with dyscalculia struggle with counting and grouping numbers together, following the order of operations, or knowing how to approach a math problem.
Behavioral issues
It’s not uncommon for children with learning disabilities to act out in class. Often, children with learning disabilities display behavioral issues as a way to distract from their academic deficits. On the flip side, some students may shy away from others to conceal the struggles they may be experiencing.
Incomplete assignments and lack of organization
Many children with learning disabilities struggle with organizing assignments, while others may fail to turn in their assignments. Often, this does not stem from a lack of effort but the inability to understand new concepts, memory issues, and poor time management. If you notice a decline in your child’s academic performance, it may be the result of a learning disability.
Difficulty following directions
If your child has a learning disability, like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it may appear that they are simply not following directions. This is not intentional. Children with learning disabilities often struggle understanding directions, focusing long enough to hear or retain new information, or remembering what they’ve been asked to do.
Concerned your child may have an undiagnosed learning disability? The professionals at Geo Psychological Testing specialize in psychological evaluations and assessments. After diagnosis, our licensed clinical psychologists offer referrals and recommendations for academic accommodations. Interested in learning more? Contact us today!
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