If you are really serious, or want to know more - here is a comprehensive checklist provided to help identify Learning Disabilities in children.
Definition
- Seems bright
- Does some things well, others poorly
- Is failing in school in one or more subjects.
Auditory Disabilities
- Doesn't listen in class
- Doesn't remember what he/she is told or can’t follow instructions
- Has a limited speaking and/or listening vocabulary
- Has a poor sense of rhythm
- Can't discriminate between similar sounds
- Mispronounces words
- Has difficulty sounding out words
- Reading errors similar in meaning; e.g. puppy – dog
- Spelling errors resemble correct word in appearance
- Remembers better what he/she sees.
Visual Disabilities
- Reverses letters when reading or writing
- Is a slow reader
- Sounds out words that should be sight words
- Reading substitutions are visually similar but not meaning; e.g. horse – house;
- Loses his/her place or omits words when reading
- Has difficulty copying correctly from the board
- Spelling errors are phonetic
- Can't remember pictures, scenes
- Has a superior ability to remember what he/she has heard.
Speaking Disabilities
- Speaks in incomplete sentences
- Has an immature vocabulary
- Can't seem to find the words to express his/her thoughts
- Dislikes participating in class discussions
- Has poor reading comprehension
- Uses incorrect verb tenses
- Mispronounces words
- Sentences seem "mixed up"
- Uses gestures rather than words.
Written Disabilities
- Poor writing posture
- Written work is untidy
- Sequence of movements in forming letters is incorrect
- Beyond grade three, is still reversing letters
- Letters vary in size and wander off the lines
- Has difficulty copying from the board
- Is slow completing written work
- Can't seem to express ideas in writing in a logical or intelligible manner
- Is poor in sports
- Seems clumsy
- Drops things
- Has poor balance
- Has poor eye/hand coordination
- Art work is immature.
Orientation
- Can't tell time
- Lacks ability to judge time spans; e.g. bedtime, birth date
- Performs poorly on timed tests or assignments
- Can't plan ahead
- Gets lost
- Confuses directions; e.g. north, south, left, right
- Has difficulty in making comparisons of size and/or distance.
Hyperactivity
- Acts impulsively; e.g. acts first, thinks later
- Is moving constantly
- Behavior is inconsistent from day to day
- Is disruptive in class
- Has a short attention span.
Distractibility
- Attention seems to wander
- Daydreams
- Comments are off topic
- Starts assignments without having listened to directions
