Early Warning Signs
Of Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD
Many children experience the following problems during various stages of their development. However if your child frequently exhibits several symptoms as he or she matures, there is reason to suspect a learning disability.
Problems
Most noted in Younger Children
Behavior Problems:
Distractible, impulsive, hyperactive, short attention span
Low frustration level, over-reacts
Talks too much or “acts out” in class to cover up for not being able to do work
Gets along better with younger children rather than those his own age or older
Poor Coordination, Accident Prone:
Difficulty with balance (hoping, skipping)
Difficulty cutting, coloring, writing
Speech Problems:
Delayed or immature speech
Difficulty finding right word or forming sentence
Problems
with Schoolwork:
Memory Problems:
Difficulty naming familiar people or things and recalling events, short-term recall
Poor concentration
Unable to say the letters of the alphabet or days of the week in correct order
Unable to follow directions with multiple steps
Difficulty Understanding Time and Space:
Perplexed by concepts like before and after, over and under, today, tomorrow, and yesterday, etc.
Cannot judge size and space relationships well (bumps into walls, doorways, tables, school desks, people; knocks over items sitting on a table, etc.)
Does not allow enough time to complete work (due to lack of perception of time and difficulty organizing work)
Reverses letters and numbers, which leads to problems in reading, writing, spelling, and math
Cannot copy well from blackboard
Overall school performance poorer than what would be expected from child’s intelligence or alertness
Problems
Most Noted In Older Children
Has notable difficulty with reading, composition, penmanship, spelling and /or math
Often expresses anger toward teacher
Doesn’t recall oral assignments and cannot copy written assignments correctly from the board
Adopts a mask of indifference or apathy. Is obstinate, even hostile, refuses to do work or may be the “class clown”