Detecting Learning Difficulties

Detecting Learning Difficulties 

By Focus on the Family

Although many of the following conditions are often true of those without learning difficulties, a pronounced difficulty in one or more of these areas may indicate that a physician should diagnose the problem.

Symptoms in preschoolers
By age 1, the child cannot do one or more of the following:
  • say “Mama”
  • play peek-a-boo
  • wave bye-bye
  • respond to his name
  • sit up on his own

    By age 2, he does not:

  • say the names of a few toys
  • imitate parents
  • seem capable of identifying eyes, ears, nose and mouth
  • walk unaided By age 3, he does not:
  • repeat simple rhymes
  • enjoy playing alone with toys
  • understand simple stories
  • navigate stairs

    By age 4, he does not:

  • talk in short sentences
  • enjoy playing with other children
  • give correct answers to simple questions
  • balance on one foot By age 5, he is not:
  • understood outside the family
  • sharing or taking turns
  • understanding the words “yesterday,” “today” and “tomorrow”
  • capable of throwing overhand
  • catching a ballSymptoms in youngsters and adults
  • He has difficulty understanding spoken directions.
  • He has trouble pronouncing a word until someone says it for him.
  • He tries to treat people well, but often says something inappropriate.
  • He has difficulty following written instructions.
  • In writing, he leaves out or reverses words or letters.
  • He knows his way around town until a street is torn up or a building is removed.
  • He usually mismatches clothes.
  • He is disorganized and can’t find belongings.
  • He reads and writes well, but can’t balance a checkbook.
  • He is clumsy.
  • He has poor coordination in writing or drawing.
  • He is easily annoyed.
  • He tends to act impulsively.
  • He is either extremely over- or under-active.
  • He has a short attention span.

From www.troubledwith.com, a Focus on the Family web site. Copyright © 2002, Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.