From Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database

Something's not quite right about Johnny. He seems bright enough, but often his performance or behavior falls short of expectations. He can do some things very well, but in other ways is behind his peers. Is he simply lazy? Does he just need to try harder?

When the development or academic performance of a healthy child falls short of what is expected for his or her age and intelligence, parents or teachers may suspect the child has a learning disability (LD). Being aware of the signs of learning disabilities will help parents determine if the child should be referred for evaluation. This digest summarizes some of the common warning signs of learning disabilities for preschool, elementary, and secondary school children and youth.

As the name implies, LD is a condition that affects learning, and sooner or later is manifested by poor school performance, especially in reading, mathematics, spelling, and writing. In addition, LD is a life-long condition, and can significantly impact relationships, daily activities, and eventually work and careers. Learning disabilities are presumed to arise from dysfunctions in the brain. Individuals with learning disabilities have significant difficulties in perceiving information (input), in processing and remembering information (integration) and/or in expressing information (output). Outward manifestations of any of these difficulties serve as indicators-or warning signs-of a learning disability.

WARNING SIGNS IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Although children's growth patterns vary among individuals and within individuals, uneven development or significant delays in development can signal the presence of LD. It is important to keep in mind that the behaviors listed below must persist over time to be considered warning signs. Any child may occasionally exhibit one or two of these behaviors in the course of normal development.

Language

• Slow development in speaking words or sentences
• Pronunciation problems
• Difficulty learning new words
• Difficulty following simple directions
• Difficulty understanding questions
• Difficulty expressing wants and desires
• Difficulty rhyming words
• Lack of interest in story telling

• Clumsiness
• Poor balance
• Difficulty manipulating small objects
• Awkwardness with running, jumping, or climbing
• Trouble learning to tie shoes, button shirts, or perform other self-help activities
• Avoidance of drawing or tracing

• Trouble memorizing the alphabet or days of the week
• Poor memory for what should be routine (everyday) procedures
• Difficulty with cause and effect, sequencing, and counting
• Difficulty with basic concepts such as size, shape, color

• High distractibility
• Impulsive behavior
• Unusual restlessness (hyperactivity)
• Difficulty staying on task
• Difficulty changing activities
• Constant repetition of an idea, inability to move on to a new idea (perseveration)

• Trouble interacting with others, playing alone
• Prone to sudden and extreme mood changes
• Easily frustrated
• Hard to manage, has temper tantrums

• Slow learning of the correspondence of sound to letter.
• Consistent errors in reading or spelling
• Difficulty remembering basic sight words
• Inability to retell a story in sequence
• Trouble learning to tell time or count money
• Confusion of math signs (+, -, x, /, =)
• Transposition of number sequences
• Trouble memorizing math facts
• Trouble with place value
• Difficulty remembering the steps of mathematic operations such as long division

• Poor coordination, or awkwardness
• Difficulty copying from chalkboard
• Difficulty aligning columns (math)
• Poor handwriting

• Difficulty concentrating or focusing on a task
• Difficulty finishing work on time
• Inability to follow multiple directions
• Unusual sloppiness, carelessness
• Poor concept of direction (left, right)
• Rejection of new concepts, or changes in routine

• Difficulty understanding facial expressions or gestures
• Difficulty understanding social situations
• Tendency to misinterpret behavior of peers and/or adults
• Apparent lack of "common sense"

• Avoidance of reading and writing
• Tendency to misread information
• Difficulty summarizing
• Poor reading comprehension
• Difficulty understanding subject area textbooks
• Trouble with open-ended questions
• Continued poor spelling
• Poor grasp of abstract concepts
• Poor skills in writing essays
• Difficulty in learning foreign language
• Poor ability to apply math skills

• Difficulty staying organized
• Trouble with test formats such as multiple choice
• Slow work pace in class and in testing situations
• Poor note taking skills
• Poor ability to proofread or double check work

• Difficulty accepting criticism
• Difficulty seeking or giving feedback
• Problems negotiating or advocating for oneself
• Difficulty resisting peer pressure
• Difficulty understanding another person's perspectives