A learning disability is a neurological disorder. Children with learning disabilities are as smart as or smarter than their peers. But they may have difficulty in reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling, and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways.
A learning disability can’t be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong issue. With the right support and intervention, however, children with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to successful, often distinguished careers later in life.
Parents can help children with learning disabilities achieve such success by encouraging their strengths, knowing their weaknesses, understanding the educational system, working with professionals, and learning about strategies for dealing with specific difficulties.
Reading Difficulties
Dislikes and avoids reading
Reads slowly and painfully
Poor reading skills
Missing out on the words in between reading
Missing outlines while reading
Repeating the same sentences
Reads without pause in between
Confusion with similar words by reading (bread and beard)
Sequencing errors (was/saw; on/no)
Confuses similar-looking letters (b, p, d and q)
Writing difficulties
Dislikes and avoids writing
Delays in learning to write
Difficulty in remembering shapes of letters and numbers
Frequent letter and number reversals (mirror writing)
Omits letters from words and words from sentences
Inaccurate copying
Cannot spot errors in own work
Difficulty preparing outlines and organizing written work
Poor and illegible handwriting
Giving inadequate pressure on the hand while writing
Arithmetic difficulties
Confusion between similar numbers
Incorrect problem-solving strategies
Has difficulty with comparisons (less than, greater than)
Has trouble telling time
Has trouble learning multiplication tables, formulas, and rules
Has trouble interpreting graphs and charts
Incorrect problem-solving strategies
Shows difficulty understanding concepts of place value, quantity, number lines, positive and negative value, carrying and borrowing
Is challenged to make changes and handle money.
Has difficulty understanding concepts related to time such as days, weeks, months, seasons, quarters, etc.