For Other Professionals
Warning Signs of Learning Disabilities
The development of children with learning disabilities can look different from the development of other children. Find out what preschool behaviors might be warning signs of learning disabilities.
Your child looks perfectly normal but… you suspect something is wrong.
Why? Does your child have an uneven pattern of "Can Do's" and "Can't Do's"?
You may worry that your child is not developing like other pre-schoolers in some ways. Development may be:
- Confusing
- Unpredictable
- Erratic
- Inconsistent
Consider your child's preschool skills
Below are frequent comments describing common characteristics of preschoolers who might be at risk for being identified as having a learning disability.
"He knocks over blocks, bumps into doors, falls out of his chair, crashes into playmates and catapults himself through space."
- Poor estimation of space
- Poor coordination
- Tendency to lurch forward
- Double jointed sitting
"He overreacts or underreacts to everything – it's as though his emotional thermostat isn't working."
- Indiscriminate or overreactions
- Loss of emotional control
- Laughter one moment, crying the next
- Under or overreaction to touch
"She can talk about topiary trees, but she can't pull up a zipper or draw a circle."
- Difficulty using hands to manipulate toys, buttons, etc.
- Difficulty, or avoidance of, playing with puzzles and blocks
- Clumsiness, knocking over glasses of milk, juice
"His vision is good, yet he doesn't seem to perceive things well."
- Difficulty focusing
- Problems distinguishing shapes and colors
- Difficulty remembering what he sees
- Difficulty remembering the order/sequence of what he sees
- Difficulty understanding what he sees
"He never seems to be 'put together' right, yet I spend so much more time and energy helping him than the other children."
- Untied shoes, shirt hanging out
- Disorganized movement
- Difficulty keeping up with his things
Often it is the parents who first have concerns when their toddlers are not "on target" in their development. Sometimes areas of delayed development are first detected in the doctor's office. It often takes longer to notice uneven development patterns than to notice overall delayed development.
Warning signs are just that: Warnings
They don't necessarily mean there are problems, but they should be discussed with your pediatrician or family physician at your next visit. If your toddler is developing normally, your doctor will be able to reassure you.
Early intervention with a child who is behind in social, cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, and/or language development can make a world of difference. If you see some of these signs in your child, you want to contact your school district, primary physician, or the local, state or national LDA office for information. They can guide you on where to start in determining whether your child has some delays in areas of development.
Federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), provides for a free and appropriate education for all children with disabilities. This includes early intervention for preschool children who need special education services.
The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) is a national volunteer organization whose members include individuals with learning disabilities, their families and professionals. There are state and local LDA chapters throughout United States. For more information and to locate the LDA chapter nearest you, visit LDA's web site for contact information: www.ldaamerica.org
Other resources
- Your local school district
Ask about their early childhood screening and their early childhood program
- Your state's department of education
Ask about your state's plan for early childhood intervention and special education.
- Your state's parent training and information center
Ask about what steps you should take to request an evaluation for your toddler. (Find it on this list.)
Excerpted from: Early Childhood Intervention Pamphlet. (February, 1996). Learning Disabilities Association of America.
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