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Is your Child Struggling?
Use this check-list to evaluate symptoms commonly related to learning disabilities:
(This check-list is also available as a downloadable pdf file)
Academic
Reading problems
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Reverses or scrambles letters
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Rearranges or omits syllables, words, phrases
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Works right to left
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Sound/symbol relationship is weak
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Has difficulty blending sounds
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Relies on guessing for decoding and comprehension
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Comprehension may be adequate but decoding is poor
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Decoding may be adequate but comprehension is poor
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Sight word recognition is weak (may know the word one time but not the next)
Spelling problems
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Spells everything phonetically, or,
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Does not spell phonetically
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Knows spelling words at home but misses them on the test, or,
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Spells words correctly on the test but misspells them in written work
Writing problems
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Incorrect pencil grip
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Frequent erasures
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Hand preference not well established
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Prefers printing to cursive
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Errors look like carelessness (f looks like l)
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Copies incorrectly; errors, omissions, reversals
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Writes brief answers
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Cutting and coloring activities are difficult or avoided
Math problems
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Difficulty memorizing math facts
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Copies problems incorrectly
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Difficulty remembering math steps, sequencing
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Difficulty with word problems
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Finds math terminology confusing
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Frequent reversals, scrambles the order of numbers
Other
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Easily confused by instructions
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Seems careless, rushes through work
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Test-taking ability is poor
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Uneven performance is common
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Turns in work uncompleted
Cognitive
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Thinking is often disorganized
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Organizational skills are poor
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Concrete thinker; difficulty with abstract reasoning
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Poor concept of time
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Left and right not well established; confusion about directions
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May obsess on one idea or topic
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Lags in developmental milestones
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Difficulty distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant details
Physical
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General awkwardness, clumsy, or
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Is extremely coordinated and good in sports
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Visual-motor coordination is poor
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Mixed dominance
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May be hyperactive or hypoactive
Behavior/Social
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Forgets a series of directions
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Peer group relationships may be poor
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May prefer younger children
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Frequently has poor judgment in social situations
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Misinterprets the intentions of others; misreads cues
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May be impulsive, or
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Has difficulty making decisions
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Easily frustrated
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Finds change difficult or frightening
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May be gullible
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Appears to be very serious, or
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Appears to be silly
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Procrastinates
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Often uses nonspecific words for naming items (“that thingy, it, stuff, sorta, kinda”)
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Often speaks in incomplete sentences
These lists highlight symptoms commonly associated with learning disabilities. The number and severity of the symptoms will vary with each student.
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