WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A LEARNING DISABILITY?
Parents often are surprised to find out that a child they think of as bright and imaginative is struggling in school. They may be surprised by an unexpectedly low score on a standardized test, or a teacher might report that the child is “underachieving” or “not working up to his potential.” Not all such problems are the result of learning disabilities, as you’ll see below, but there are certain tip-offs that a child might be experiencing a cognitive roadblock. Moreover, some signs of learning disability present themselves in early childhood. By taking notice of how your toddler or preschooler is approaching certain developmental milestones, you can form an idea of whether you should have your child tested for possible disabilities. Some of the signs that a preschool child has a learning disability are: • delay or difficulty in understanding or using spoken language • difficulty understanding simple instructions • slowness in naming objects and colors • limited awareness of or interest
