Not Likely Indicators of a Learning Disability:
  • If the adult has poor basic skills and has attended a number of different schools, or has had gaps in education due to illness or other reasons, this may indicate inadequate learning opportunities, not a learning disability.
  • If the adult reports lack of interest and effort during his schooling, resulting in poor achievement, this probably does not indicate a learning disability.

If the adult indicates significant abuse of drugs or alcohol during his schooling, this probably interfered with their availability for learning and may indicate an alternative reason for school difficulties.


Language and Developmental History

When considering difficulty in language skills, you must differentiate between English-as-a- Second-Language (ESL) problems and learning disabilities. When English is not the adult's first language, he/she may experience difficulties in speaking, reading and writing English. This is not a learning disability but rather an ESL issue. These difficulties, in fact, may persist for some time as the student develops skills in the English language.

Indicators of a POSSIBLE Learning Disability:

ESL Issues:

  • If the student can speak his own first language but cannot read or write well in it, even after years of adequate instruction, this may be an indication of a learning disability.
  • If the adult has learned a first language plus English, and has difficulty in similar aspects of both languages, this may be a stronger indication of a learning disability.

Developmental Issues:

  • For adults whose first language is English, any history of difficulty in developing early language skills is an indicator of a possible learning disability.
  • A history of prematurity, low birth weight, or respiratory distress could be a high risk factor for the development of learning disabilities.

Family History

Learning disabilities appear to have a strong genetic component. Students who report a family history of learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more likely to have learning disabilities themselves.

Mature adult students with learning disabilities often report that their children have been identified by the school system as requiring additional support services.