Children with learning disabilities exhibit a wide range of symptoms. These include problems with reading, mathematics, comprehension, writing, spoken language, or reasoning abilities social interaction difficulties. Hyperactivity, inattention and perceptual coordination also may be associated with learning disabilities but are not learning disabilities themselves. The primary characteristic of a learning disability is a significant difference between a child's achievement in some areas and his or her overall intelligence.

Academic Symptoms

• poor performance on group tests


• reversals in reading and writing


• difficulty in copying accurately from a model


• slowness in completing work


• difficulty with tasks requiring sequencing


• easily confused by instructions

Cognitive Symptoms

• difficulty discriminating size, shape, color


• difficulty with concept of time


• distorted concept of body image


• poor organizational skills


• difficulty with abstract reasoning


• poor short-term/long-term memory


• difficulty with problem-solving


• disorganized thinking


• often obsesses on one topic or idea


• lags in development milestones

Physical Symptoms

• general awkwardness


• poor visual-motor coordination


• hyperactivity


• overly distractible


• lack of hand preference or mixed dominance


• difficulty concentrating

Behavioural/Social Symptoms

• lack of reflective thought prior to action


• impulsive behaviour


• low tolerance for frustration


• excessive movement during sleep


• poor adjustment to environmental changes


• overly excitable during group play


• inappropriate and often excessive displays of affection


• poor social judgment


• behaviour often inappropriate for situation


• overly gullible and easily led by peers


• failure to see consequences for his actions


• difficulty making decisions


• excessive variation in mood and responsiveness


• poor peer relationships

When considering these symptoms, it is important to remain mindful of the following:

• No one will have all these symptoms.


• Among LD individuals, some symptoms are more common than others.


• All people have at least two or three of these problems to some degree.


• The number of symptoms seen in a particular child does not give an indication as to whether the disability is mild or severe. It is important to consider if the behaviors are chronic and appear in clusters.