Characteristics of Learning Disabilities

People who utilize the services of literacy organizations may have certain characteristics that lead a practitioner to suspect a learning disability. Sometimes that information is disclosed during the intake process but, more frequently, learners may not have been officially diagnosed. Some may recollect being in special education classes and having various assessments and tests done in school, but were unaware of the reasons why or the outcomes of those testing procedures.

Through the years, individuals with learning disabilities may have developed various coping strategies, which have allowed them to function fairly well in society. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of Kitchener-Waterloo, adults with learning disabilities may demonstrate one or more of the following:

• The adult may learn well when shown, but cannot follow written directions and/or remember several verbal directions.
• He/she may express thoughts verbally, but cannot put them on paper.
• He/she may be good with mechanical things, but has difficulty with reading, writing and spelling. He/she may be unable to complete a job application form.
• He/she may feel anxious, depressed, or have a low self-esteem.

During the intake process, literacy organizations often see similar characteristics to the ones mentioned above in their clients. Although certified psychologists are the only individuals who can diagnose a learning disability, there are screening tools available to literacy practitioners that they can use in their intake process, if desired.

Some other characteristics of learning disabilities include:

• The learner reports that letters and words appear of out of sequence or reversed.
• The learner appears to be able to hear but has difficulty discriminating similar sounding words or saying words correctly.
• The learner's hearing appears normal, but the learner frequently misunderstands questions -a language processing problem.
• The learner frequently asks to have questions repeated which may indicate a learning disability related to attention and/or auditory processing. ¹¹