Parents of small children can be frightened by the term learning disability.Most children with learning disabilities have normal intelligence and only need some adaptation in order to succeed.An accurate diagnosis of a learning disorder in a young child can be a challenge.If you have younger children, you may be able to spot early signs of potential learning disabilities.Proactive measures are taken.
Step 1: Take your child's risk factors into account.
There are many possible causes of a learning disability in a child.Certain risk factors during the earliest stage of life may increase the likelihood of a learning disability.Premature babies are more likely to develop learning disabilities.There are certain injuries and illnesses that can increase the risk.Children who have frequent ear infections or sleep disorders are more likely to have a learning disability.
Step 2: Delays in speech, walking and other motor skills can be tracked.
It is difficult to identify a learning disability in a young child because all kids develop at their own pace.Some walk at nine months, others at twelve.Some infants talk quickly and others talk slowly.Learning disabilities can be caused by delays in the development of skills like walking, talking, and manipulating objects with the hands.Everyone seems to have an opinion on the right age for an infant to start walking or talking, but you should rely on your child's doctor to conduct regular assessments and determine whether your infant is on a typical path.Most babies start speaking two or three words at around 12–15 months, and can stack a few wooden blocks with their hands by around 15 months.
Step 3: Take a look at atypical behaviors and skill levels.
Children with learning disabilities can be described as restless, impulsive, impetuous, inconsistent, easily distracted, and inappropriate in their behavior.Many kids with learning disabilities also have one or more of these qualities.There are qualities and behaviors that are more significant for a child of your age.There are difficulties in regards to age appropriate skills.Identifying words that rhyme, or differentiating between right and left, up and down, before and after, first and last, and yesterday and tomorrow are some of the skills preschool-age children should be learning.
Step 4: There may be a lack of enthusiasm for childhood activities.
Children with learning disabilities may have trouble making friends.They might like to watch the other kids play.They may lose interest quickly when engaged with other kids.Many kids without learning disabilities have some or all of these qualities as well.Some kids with learning disabilities may not be shy, but still have difficulty interacting with other kids and engaging in activities with them.Some kids are prone to talking quickly and at length on a single topic that the other kids may not find interesting.
Step 5: Talk to your child's teacher.
You know your child better than anyone else, but an experienced preschool or kindergarten teacher has observed or interacted with hundreds of kids.They can pick up on signs of a learning disability that you can't see.If you have any concerns, raise the topic of learning disabilities with your child's teacher.If your child has a learning disability, you should work with their teacher to identify their strengths and weaknesses and adjust the educational experience to better utilize the former and minimize the latter.
Step 6: Talk about speech and language concerns.
It is possible that your child can run through the ABC song perfectly and still have trouble identifying individual letters.They may have trouble pronouncing words without a speech impediment.All children develop at a unique pace and on their own path.If your child doesn't want to learn anymore, that can be a sign of a learning disability.
Step 7: There are difficulties with reading, writing, and mathematics.
A teacher may see challenges in the core aspects of learning in preschool.If your child has delayed development in one or more of these areas, and especially if the delay is combined with a lack of enthusiasm or interest, further investigation into the possibility of a learning disability may be necessary.A child with a learning disability who has a lot of difficulty grasping a pencil or crayon may have difficulties with hand-eye coordination.It's possible that an inability to visualize the concepts of addition and subtraction is a sign.
Step 8: Consider other possible signs as well.
School settings give a lot of opportunities for interaction with other kids, so problems with interest or ability to make friends will often become more apparent than at home.Extreme separation anxiety could be a sign of a learning disability.Problems with poor coordination, such as falling regularly or having trouble joining in physical activities, might be more clear in school.The challenges of paying attention, following directions, and keeping organized may be more obvious to a teacher than a parent.
Step 9: Look for signs of dyslexia.
Learning disabilities are unique to each individual.One of the most common learning disabilities is dyslexia.Children with this condition have difficulty with spelling and word recognition.Delayed speaking ability, difficulty learning songs and rhymes, trouble distinguishing left from right, and difficulty remembering numbers are some of the signs of dyslexia in younger children.
Step 10: There is evidence of dysgraphia.
Dysgraphia is a condition that causes difficulty with writing due to awkwardness in holding and using a writing instrument.Not everyone with poor handwriting has a condition called dysgraphia.Young children who can't yet write letters and words are more likely to be diagnosed with dysgraphia.There is a strong dislike of drawing pictures or trying to write letters, and an interest in drawing or writing that fades quickly once the child makes an attempt.
Step 11: Consider the signs of dyscalculia.
As a child gets older, dyscalculia becomes more apparent as a learning disability.It makes it hard to understand basic mathematical concepts like positive and negative numbers.Young children with this condition may struggle to understand simple math such as adding or taking away apples.
Step 12: There are signs of Auditory Processing Disorder.
APD is a disorder that affects sound and how it is processed by the brain.If your child has APD, they will be unable to distinguish between words that sound similar.If your child says "What?", it's a sign of APD.Even if they heard what you said, it was a lot.Language Processing Disorder is a specific type of APD in which the child struggles only with processing language and does not affect how other sounds are heard.They are interpreted.A child withLPD will find it difficult to express themselves.They can draw or describe an object, but can't give a specific name.
Step 13: There are signs of Non-Verbal Learning Disability.
A child who has superior verbal skills will have difficulties with their motor, visual-spatial and social skills.The child may not be able to recognize facial expressions or body language.They will have difficulty with fine motor skills, like tying shoes, and you may notice that they have bad handwriting.A child with a learning disability may ask a lot of repetitive questions in class and have difficulty changing gears.
Step 14: Difficulty with visual perception can be paid attention to.
A child with visual perceptual or visual motor deficit has difficulty processing information that is delivered visually or through the eyes.You can observe certain behaviors that indicate visual motor deficit, such as closing one eye while working, holding papers at an odd angle while reading, and holding writing instruments too tightly.They may lose their place while reading, have difficulty copying and cutting, and often mix up similar looking letters.