The terms "learning disabilities" or "specific learning disorders" are umbrella terms that cover a variety of learning problems. Children struggling with learning may not lack intelligence or ambition, and neither are they lazy. The majority possess intelligence on par with everyone else. They interpret information differently because of the way their brains are wired. Children with learning difficulties have distinct ways of hearing, seeing, and understanding the world. This may make it difficult to learn and apply new knowledge and abilities.  Listening, speaking, writing, reading, and math challenges are some of the most prevalent types of learning disabilities. Every child struggles with their schoolwork from time to time, but if a certain subject is regularly difficult, it may be a sign of a learning disability.

Indicators of learning problems and impairments

From child to child, learning issues present with a wide range of symptoms. While one youngster may struggle with reading and spelling, another may enjoy reading but find math challenging. Another youngster may have problems hearing what is being said or understood when spoken to aloud. Despite the variations in the problems, they are all learning disorders.

It can be difficult to find someone who has a learning disability. Due to the extreme heterogeneity, there isn't a single symptom or profile that can be used to demonstrate the existence of a problem. Some warning indicators are more common than others at specific ages. Knowing what they are will help you spot a learning disability in your child at an early age and act quickly to get them assistance.

Some typical warning signs of learning difficulties are provided by the following checklists. Keep in mind that even children without learning problems may occasionally struggle with some of these issues. When your child's capacity to grasp particular tasks shows a constant unevenness, that is when you should be concerned.

Symptoms of Learning Disabilities at Preschool Age

• Word pronunciation issues

• Trouble locating the appropriate phrase.

• Rhyming is challenging.

• Finding it difficult to learn the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, or the days of the week.

• Difficulty learning new habits or following instructions.

• Control issues with crayons, pencils, and scissors, or trouble coloring inside the lines.

• Difficulty with snaps, buttons, zippers, or learning how to tie shoes

Symptoms of Learning Disabilities in Ages 5 to 9:

• Having problems grasping the correspondence between letter and sound.
• Difficulty in forming words by mixing sounds
• Confusion when reading simple words.
• Learning new abilities slowly.
• Makes errors frequently and routinely misspells words.
• Difficulty understanding simple math ideas.
• Timekeeping and sequence memory problems.

Symptoms of Learning Disabilities in Ages 10 to 13

• Difficulty in arithmetic or reading comprehension.
• Difficulties in word-based and value-based questions
• Avoids reading aloud since she dislikes reading and writing.
• Shabby handwriting
• Lacking in an organization (bedroom, homework, and desk are messy and disorganized).
• Difficulty paying attention during class topics and speaking out loud.
• Varies the spelling of a word inside the same document.

Observing developmental stages might assist you in spotting learning difficulties. It's crucial to pay attention to toddler and preschooler growth milestones. Early identification of developmental abnormalities may be a symptom of a learning disability, and issues that are discovered early may be simpler to address.

Even though a developmental delay might not be recognized as a sign of a learning disability until your child is older, if you catch it early, you can take action. It doesn't hurt to get an evaluation if you believe there is an issue because you know your child better than anyone else does.

Issues with math, writing, and reading

By school-specific skill set, learning difficulties are frequently categorized. If your child is in school, reading, writing, or math-related learning difficulties are typically those that are most obvious.

Reading-related learning difficulties (Dyslexia)

There are two categories of reading learning impairments. When it is difficult to comprehend the relationship between sounds, letters, and words, basic reading issues arise. When words, sentences, and paragraphs are difficult to understand, reading comprehension issues develop.

Problems with reading might be a sign of

1. Word and letter recognition

2. Recognizing concepts and words.

3. Fluency and quickness of reading.

4. Vocabulary in general.

Math learning difficulties (Dyscalculia)

The severity of a child's math learning impairments varies tremendously based on their overall strengths and weaknesses. A language learning handicap, a visual disorder, and a problem with sequencing, memory, or organization will all have various effects on a child's ability to do math.

A child with a learning disability centered on math may have trouble remembering and organizing numbers, operation signs, and numerical "facts" (such as 5+5=10 or 55=25). Children with math learning impairments may also struggle with basic counting skills (such as numbering by twos or fives) or with telling the time.

Difficulties with writing instruction (Dysgraphia)

Learning difficulties in writing can affect both the mental and physical processes of writing and information comprehension. Physical difficulties creating words and letters are referred to as basic writing disorders. A difficulty organising one's thoughts on paper is indicated by an expressive writing handicap.

Writing is central to the signs of a learning deficit in written languages. They consist of issues with:

• Uniformity and orderliness of the writing.
• Replicating letters and words precisely.
• Spelling accuracy.
• Order and consistency in writing.

Additional forms of learning problems and impairments

More than just reading, math, and writing are impacted by learning disabilities. Other forms of learning disabilities include issues with language comprehension, sound discrimination, visual information interpretation, and motor skills (coordination and movement).

Motor skills deficits in learning (Dyspraxia)

Problems with movement and coordination, whether they include fine motor abilities (cutting, writing), or broad motor skills, are referred to as motor difficulties (running, jumping). A motor disability may also be referred to as an "output" activity, which refers to how the brain produces information. The brain and the required limbs must be able to communicate to perform an activity, such as running, jumping, writing, or cutting.

Problems with physical skills that involve hand-eye coordination, such as holding a pencil or buttoning a shirt, are indications that your kid may have a motor coordination deficit.

Language learning impairments (Aphasia/Dysphasia)

Speaking and communicating: Abilities in spoken language comprehension or production are a part of learning impairments. Being able to orally explain or convey something entails arranging thoughts in the mind and using the appropriate words, which is why language is also seen as an output activity.

Problems with verbal language abilities, such as the capacity to repeat stories, speech fluency, and the capacity to comprehend the meaning of words, directions, and the like, are indicators of a language-based Learning Disability.

Problems with hearing and seeing: the significance of the ears and eyes

The brain receives information primarily through the eyes and ears, a process frequently referred to as "input." Learning may suffer if the eyes or the hearing aren't functioning properly.

Hearing well is referred to as having good "auditory processing abilities" or "receptive language" by professionals. The accuracy of one's hearing has a significant impact on one's capacity for reading, writing, and spelling. It is challenging to sound out words and comprehend the fundamental ideas of reading and writing when one cannot differentiate minute changes in sound.

In visual processing disorders, tiny shape variations are missed, letters or numbers are reversed, words or lines are skipped, depth or distance are misperceived, and eye-hand coordination issues are present. The task that the eyes do is sometimes referred to as "visual processing" by experts. Mathematical, reading, and motor skills can all be impacted by visual perception. It is suggested to consult the best Child Psychologist at TalktoAngel and have a complete evaluation, at the best Online kid therapy platform.

Contributed by: Dr. (Prof) R.K Suri and Ms. Varshini Nayyar