Understanding the Signs & Symptoms of Learning Disabilities: A Guide to Expert Support

From Identifying Symptoms to Building Strengths: The Cadabam’s Advantage

Recognizing the symptoms of a learning disability is the first crucial step. The next is choosing a partner who can provide clarity, compassion, and a clear path forward. At Cadabam’s, we don’t just identify challenges; we uncover strengths and build futures.

A Legacy of Trust and Expertise

For over three decades, Cadabam’s has been at the forefront of neuro-developmental and psychological healthcare in India. Our legacy is built on a foundation of trust, a commitment to evidence-based practices, and a deep, compassionate understanding of the families we serve. We translate our experience into effective, personalized care for your child.

The Power of a Multidisciplinary Team

Diagnosing learning disabilities symptoms accurately requires a holistic view. A single perspective is rarely enough. Our strength lies in our multidisciplinary team of child psychologists, special educators, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. They collaborate to create a comprehensive picture of your child’s unique profile, ensuring no stone is left unturned.

Beyond Diagnosis: Creating a Path Forward

A diagnosis should not be a label; it should be a roadmap. At Cadabam's, we use our state-of-the-art infrastructure and integrated therapy programs to create a personalized plan for success. Our goal is to bridge the gap between therapy and everyday life, with programs designed for a seamless transition from our centre to your home and school.

Accurate Assessment for Effective Intervention

A misdiagnosis or a vague assessment can lead to ineffective interventions and wasted time, causing further frustration for your child. We emphasize precise, in-depth assessments to pinpoint the exact nature of the learning challenge. This precision ensures that every therapeutic strategy is perfectly aligned with your child's needs, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach and maximizing their potential for growth.

Decoding the Signs: A Guide for Parents, Educators, and Adults

Learning disabilities symptoms can appear differently depending on age and the specific nature of the challenge. Understanding these signs is key to early and effective intervention.

Early Signs of Learning Disabilities in Toddlers and Preschoolers

The foundation for learning is built long before a child enters a formal classroom. Paying attention to these early signs of learning disabilities can lead to crucial early support.

• Problems with Words and Sounds: Significant difficulty learning to rhyme, recognizing letters of the alphabet, or connecting letters to their sounds.
• Delayed Speech Development: Speaking later than peers, having trouble with pronunciation, or using a limited vocabulary. (Learn more about our Speech and Language Development programs.)
• Trouble with Directions and Routines: Consistently struggling to follow simple, multi-step directions or remember daily routines.
• Fine Motor Skill Challenges: Difficulty holding a crayon, using scissors, buttoning clothes, or tying shoelaces, which can impact early writing skills. (Our Occupational Therapy services can help build these foundational skills.)
• Struggles with parent-child bonding: Frustration from communication difficulties can sometimes impact the ease of interaction and bonding.

Academic & Cognitive Symptoms in School-Aged Children

As academic demands increase, the learning disabilities symptoms often become more apparent in children. Here's a look at the different types of learning disabilities and their symptoms:

Challenges with Reading (Dyslexia Symptoms)

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Despite normal intelligence, a child with dyslexia may exhibit:

• Slow, hesitant, and effortful reading.
• Difficulty sounding out new words (decoding) or recognizing familiar words by sight.
• Poor reading comprehension; they may read a passage but not be able to explain what it was about.
• A tendency to reverse letters (b/d) or words (saw/was) past the early grades.

Challenges with Writing (Dysgraphia Symptoms)

Dysgraphia affects a person's ability to write coherently. Key symptoms include:

• Messy, cramped, or illegible handwriting.
• Significant trouble with spelling accurately, even with common words.
• Difficulty with grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
• An immense struggle to organize and express thoughts clearly on paper.

Challenges with Math (Dyscalculia Symptoms)

Dyscalculia impacts the ability to understand and work with numbers. A child might show:

• Trouble grasping fundamental number concepts, such as quantity, value, and order.
• Difficulty memorizing basic math facts (e.g., 2+2=4) or times tables.
• Persistent anxiety when faced with math-related homework or tests.
• Problems with telling time, counting money, or understanding measurements.

Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD) Symptoms

NVLD is characterized by a significant discrepancy between strong verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial, and social skills. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty interpreting non-verbal cues like facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.
• Poor physical coordination or appearing clumsy, indicating a developmental delay in motor skills.
• Excellent vocabulary and verbal expression but significant trouble with reading comprehension or math concepts.
• Challenges with visual-spatial awareness, like reading maps or understanding graphs.

Behavioral Signs of Learning Disabilities: The Misunderstood Symptoms

Often, what looks like misbehavior is actually a cry for help. The frustration and confusion caused by an LD can manifest in challenging ways. These behavioral signs of learning disabilities are critical to recognize, as they can be distinct from other behavioural issues in children.

• Intense Frustration or Anger: Meltdowns or outbursts specifically tied to homework or school-related tasks.
• Task Avoidance: Appearing "lazy" or procrastinating heavily on assignments to avoid the feeling of failure.
• Inattention and Distractibility: Difficulty paying attention or seeming hyperactive, which can be easily confused with ADHD. (Read more on learning disabilities vs. ADHD).
• Class Clown Behavior: Acting out in class as a way to distract from or cover up their academic struggles.
• Poor Impulse Control: Interrupting or acting out due to the overwhelming frustration of not being able to keep up.

Emotional Signs of Learning Disabilities: The Hidden Impact

The constant struggle to meet academic expectations can take a profound emotional toll. These emotional signs of learning disabilities are just as important as the academic ones and may require psychological counselling for learning disabilities.

• Low Self-Esteem: A child may express feelings of being "dumb" or "stupid" and internalize their academic challenges as a personal failing.
• Heightened Anxiety: Significant worry and stress, especially school-related anxiety, an aversion to going to school, or physical symptoms like stomach aches before a test.
• Symptoms of Depression: Showing signs of sadness, social withdrawal, loss of interest in hobbies, or general hopelessness.
• Fear of Failure: A strong reluctance to try new or challenging tasks for fear of not being able to succeed.
• Social Difficulties: Trouble making or keeping friends, either due to misinterpreting social cues (as in NVLD) or from the social isolation caused by low self-confidence.

Recognizing Learning Disabilities Symptoms in Adults

Learning disabilities do not disappear with age. Many adults have gone undiagnosed, developing complex coping mechanisms to navigate their challenges. Key learning disabilities symptoms in adults include:

• Notably slow reading and writing speed that impacts job performance.
• A persistent tendency to misspell common words or transpose letters and numbers.
• Difficulty summarizing long documents, managing time, or meeting deadlines at work.
• Actively avoiding jobs, promotions, or tasks that require significant reading, writing, or data analysis.
• A heavy reliance on calculators for simple math and difficulty with budgeting or financial planning.

Our Assessment Process: The First Step to Clarity and Support

An accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of effective treatment. At Cadabam’s, we have a structured, empathetic process to provide you with the definitive answers you need.

Step 1: Comprehensive Developmental Screening and Parent Interview

Your journey with us begins with a conversation. We listen carefully to your observations, concerns, and your child's developmental history. This parent interview is invaluable, providing the context we need to guide our assessment.

Step 2: Multidisciplinary Psychological and Educational Assessment

Our team uses a battery of globally recognized, standardized assessments. This may include an IQ Assessment to confirm that intelligence is not the issue, an Educational Assessment to pinpoint specific academic deficits, and detailed behavioral observations to understand how these challenges play out in a learning environment, identifying any developmental delay with precision.

Step 3: Collaborative Diagnosis and Goal-Setting

After the assessments are complete, our multidisciplinary team comes together to synthesize the findings. We then meet with you to explain the diagnosis in clear, understandable terms. Most importantly, we work with you to set achievable goals and co-create an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or therapy roadmap for your child.

Building Skills and Confidence with Our Evidence-Based Programs

Our therapy programs are not just about improving grades; they are about building foundational skills, boosting confidence, and reigniting a love for learning.

Specialized Academic Intervention (Special Education)

Our special educators provide one-on-one and small-group sessions focused directly on closing academic gaps. We use proven, multi-sensory teaching methods, like the Orton-Gillingham approach for dyslexia, to teach reading, writing, and math in a way that aligns with your child's unique learning style. (Explore our Learning Assistance Programs).

Occupational Therapy for Foundational Skills

Many learning disabilities are linked to underlying challenges with motor skills and sensory processing. Our occupational therapists work on improving sensory integration, handwriting skills (addressing dysgraphia), visual-motor skills, and the crucial executive functioning skills of planning and organization. (Discover Occupational Therapy at Cadabam’s).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Emotional & Behavioral Support

We address the whole child. Our psychologists use CBT to help children, teens, and adults manage the anxiety, frustration, and low self-esteem that often accompany a learning disability. We provide them with coping strategies to handle the emotional signs of learning disabilities and build resilience.

Parent Training and Home-Based Guidance

We believe in empowering parents. Our programs include comprehensive parent training and guidance, including digital parent coaching and tele-therapy options, to equip you with the strategies and confidence to support your child’s learning and emotional well-being at home. (Access our Parent Training Resources).

The Experts Guiding Your Child’s Journey at Cadabam’s

Our team is our greatest asset. They are a dedicated group of professionals committed to helping your child succeed.

Our Team of Professionals

• Child Psychologists: Experts in developmental psychology, assessment, and therapeutic interventions like CBT.
• Special Educators: Specialists in creating and implementing tailored academic strategies for diverse learning needs.
• Speech-Language Pathologists: Professionals who address language-based learning disabilities and communication disorders.
• Occupational Therapists: Experts in sensory integration, fine motor skills, and executive functioning.
• Rehabilitation Specialists: Professionals who guide the overall therapeutic journey and ensure holistic progress.

Expert Insights (EEAT)

Quote 1 (Special Educator): "Many see a learning disability as a roadblock. We see it as a different way of learning. Our job is to find the key that unlocks that unique learning style, a process that begins with understanding their specific academic symptoms." - Special Educator's Perspective

Quote 2 (Child Psychologist): "The behavioral and emotional signs of learning disabilities are often the most visible, but they are symptoms of a deeper struggle. By addressing the root academic challenge with compassion, we empower children to rebuild their confidence and find joy in learning again." - Child Counsellor's Perspective

Success Stories: Real Journeys, Real Progress

The progress of the children and families we work with is our ultimate measure of success.

Case Study 1: Arjun’s Journey with Dyslexia

Nine-year-old Arjun was becoming increasingly withdrawn and would have angry outbursts when it was time to read. His parents saw clear behavioral signs and emotional signs of distress. Our comprehensive assessment identified severe dyslexia. Through a tailored program of multi-sensory special education and occupational therapy to improve visual tracking, Arjun's reading skills dramatically improved. Today, he voluntarily picks up books and participates confidently in class.

Case Study 2: Priya's Path to Managing Dyscalculia and Anxiety

Priya, a 15-year-old, was failing math and avoiding social situations due to severe anxiety. She believed she was "bad at everything." Our assessment confirmed dyscalculia in this teen. Her intervention plan combined specialized one-on-one math tutoring using visual aids with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This dual approach not only improved her math grades but, more importantly, gave her the tools to manage her anxiety, boosting her overall well-being and social confidence.