How early can symptoms of a learning disability be detected?

While a formal diagnosis often occurs once a child is in school, the **early signs of learning disabilities** can be noticed in preschoolers between the ages of 3-5. Indicators like significant speech delays, trouble with rhyming, or difficulty learning the alphabet can be early red flags. Early intervention is highly effective and can significantly reduce future academic and emotional struggles. v

Can't my child just "try harder" to overcome these symptoms?

No. This is a critical misunderstanding. A learning disability is a neurological difference in how the brain is wired. It has nothing to do with laziness or a lack of effort. In fact, most children with learning disabilities are trying incredibly hard. They need specialized strategies and support to help them learn in a way that works for their unique brain.

How is a learning disability different from ADHD or an intellectual disability?

These conditions are often confused but are very different. An **intellectual disability** is characterized by below-average intelligence and impacts all areas of life. **ADHD** is a disorder of executive function that affects attention, hyperactivity, and impulse control. A **learning disability** is a specific processing problem in a person with average to above-average intelligence. While they can co-occur, they require different diagnostic and treatment approaches. *[Internal Link: Learning Disabilities vs ADHD comparison page]*

What makes Cadabam’s approach to assessment different from a regular school evaluation?

A school evaluation typically focuses on identifying if a child qualifies for academic accommodations. Our multidisciplinary assessment provides a holistic, clinical view. We don't just look at academics; we assess cognitive abilities, language skills, motor skills, sensory processing, and emotional and social health to create a complete picture of your child’s strengths and challenges.

Does Cadabam’s offer online support for parents who suspect a learning disability?

Absolutely. We understand that access to expert care is vital. Cadabam’s offers online consultations and digital parent coaching programs to guide families, regardless of their location. We can help you understand the signs and plan the next steps from the comfort of your home.

A Parent's Guide to Recognizing Learning Disabilities Symptoms in Children

A child with a learning disability may struggle unexpectedly with reading, writing, mathematics, or listening despite having average to above-average intelligence. These challenges are not related to a lack of effort but stem from neurological differences in how the brain receives, processes, and responds to information. Recognizing the symptoms of learning disabilities in children is the first, most crucial step toward providing the right support.

At Cadabam’s Child Development Center, with over 30 years of experience in evidence-based care, we help parents understand these symptoms and find the right path for their child's unique developmental journey.

A Partner in Your Child’s Developmental Journey

When you suspect your child might have a learning disability, the path forward can seem uncertain. Choosing the right partner to guide you is paramount. Cadabam’s CDC isn’t just a facility; we are a dedicated team of experts committed to understanding your child as a whole person.

A Legacy of Compassionate Care

For over three decades, Cadabam’s has been a pioneer in mental health and developmental wellness. Our Child Development Centre is built on this foundation of trust and expertise, with a specific focus on child development and embracing the concept of neurodiversity. We understand that every child's brain is wired differently, and we celebrate these differences while providing the tools to navigate the challenges.

Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Approach

Identifying the symptoms of a learning disability is complex. A single test or a teacher's observation is often not enough. That is why we employ a multidisciplinary approach. Our team of clinical psychologists, rehabilitation psychologists, special educators, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists collaborate to create a 360-degree view of your child. This prevents misinterpretations and ensures an accurate diagnosis that considers all aspects of your child’s development.

State-of-the-Art Infrastructure for Accurate Assessment

A child who is anxious or uncomfortable cannot provide a true reflection of their abilities. Our centre is designed to be a safe, child-friendly, and nurturing environment. We use internationally recognized, standardized assessment tools that are both engaging for the child and highly reliable for our experts. This ensures that the diagnostic process is as stress-free and accurate as possible.

Guiding You from Symptoms to Solutions

Our role doesn't end with a diagnosis. We see ourselves as your long-term partner in care. After identifying the specific challenges, we work with you to create an effective and personalized therapy-to-home plan. We translate the assessment results into practical strategies that you, your child, and their school can implement, empowering everyone involved in their success.

Types of Learning Disabilities and Their Symptoms

"Learning disability" is an umbrella term that covers a wide spectrum of challenges. The specific symptoms a child displays often point toward a particular type of learning disorder. Understanding these categories can help you better articulate your concerns and observations.

Symptoms Related to Reading (Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in reading / Dyslexia)

Dyslexia is one of the most well-known learning disabilities, affecting a child's ability to read and process language accurately and fluently. It is not about seeing letters backward, but how the brain processes language.

Significant difficulty recognizing the letters of the alphabet.
Trouble with phonemic awareness, which is the ability to match letters to their corresponding sounds (e.g., that the letter 'B' makes the "buh" sound).
Reading very slowly or with noticeable, laboured effort.
Poor reading comprehension; they may read a passage but cannot explain what it was about.
Spelling words phonetically but incorrectly (e.g., "enuf" for "enough").
Learn more about our specialized support programs for reading challenges.

Symptoms Related to Writing (Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in written expression / Dysgraphia)

Dysgraphia affects a child's ability to form letters or put their thoughts onto paper. This goes beyond just messy handwriting.

Illegible or highly inconsistent handwriting that may vary in size and spacing.
Persistent trouble with spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Difficulty organizing and expressing thoughts in written form, even if they can explain them verbally.
An awkward or painful pencil grip and an unusual body or wrist position while writing.
A significant gap between their spoken ideas and their ability to write them down. This is often linked to challenges with fine motor skills.

Symptoms Related to Mathematics (Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in mathematics / Dyscalculia)

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects a child's ability to understand, learn, and perform math and number-based operations.

Difficulty understanding core number concepts like "more than," "less than," or ranking items in order.
Trouble memorizing basic math facts, such as multiplication tables or simple addition.
Struggles with abstract concepts like time, money, or measurements.
High levels of anxiety when faced with math homework or tests.
Relying on finger-counting for simple calculations long after their peers have stopped.

Symptoms Related to Non-Verbal Skills (Non-Verbal Learning Disability - NVLD)

NVLD is characterized by a significant discrepancy between a child’s strong verbal abilities and their weaker motor, visual-spatial, and social skills.

Trouble interpreting non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
Poor physical coordination; they may appear clumsy or have trouble with sports. This can sometimes overlap with developmental coordination disorder.
Difficulty with abstract reasoning, problem-solving, and cause-and-effect relationships.
May be very talkative and have an impressive vocabulary but struggle with the social application of language, like knowing when to stop talking.

Symptoms Related to Language (Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders)

These disorders affect how the brain interprets information taken in through the ears or eyes. It is not a problem with hearing or vision itself.

Difficulty following multi-step spoken directions.
Trouble distinguishing between similar-sounding words (e.g., "seventy" and "seventeen").
Often appears to be "tuning out," not listening, or easily distracted by background noise.
Takes a long time to respond in conversations or answer questions.
May struggle to copy information from a board or a book.
Explore how our experts can help. Speech and Language Development Page

Noticing the Early Signs of Learning Disabilities

Early identification is the single most important factor in effectively supporting a child with a learning disability. Intervention is most powerful when it begins before years of struggle have impacted a child's self-esteem. Here are the early signs of learning disabilities to watch for at different developmental stages.

In Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)

At this age, children are developing foundational skills. Difficulties here can be an early indicator for learning disabilities in kids.

Speech and Language: Persistent pronunciation problems or "baby talk," difficulty learning and remembering new words, struggles with rhyming games or songs.
Cognitive Skills: Trouble learning and remembering the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colours, or days of the week.
Following Directions: Difficulty following simple routines or multi-step directions.
Motor Skills: Trouble with fine motor skills necessary for using scissors, crayons, or buttons. They may also be clumsy.
This may sometimes be mistaken for a general developmental delay, making professional assessment crucial.

In Primary School Children (Ages 6-10)

As academic demands increase, the symptoms of learning disabilities in children often become more apparent.

Reading and Spelling: Confusing basic words (run, eat, want), making consistent spelling errors, and having trouble associating letters with their sounds.
Letter/Number Reversals: Persistently reversing letters or numbers (like b/d or 25/52) after the age of 7.
Memory: Difficulty remembering sequences (like the months of the year) or memorizing math facts.
Learning Pace: Being noticeably slow to learn new skills compared to their peers.
Homework: Taking an unusually long time to complete homework assignments.

Beyond Academics: The Overlooked Symptoms

A learning disability's impact is not confined to the classroom. It deeply affects a child's emotional well-being, self-perception, and social life. Recognizing these secondary symptoms is vital for providing holistic support.

The Social and Emotional Signs of Learning Disabilities

The constant struggle to keep up can take a heavy toll on a child's spirit.

Signs of Frustration and Low Self-Esteem

Gets easily frustrated and angry when doing schoolwork.
Often makes self-deprecating comments like, "I'm stupid" or "I'm dumb."
Avoids reading aloud or doing tasks they find difficult, sometimes by claiming they are sick or tired.
May develop physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches before school.

Difficulty with Social Skills and Peer Relationships

Trouble understanding jokes, sarcasm, or common social idioms.
Frequently misinterprets social situations, which can lead to conflicts with peers.
Finds it hard to make or keep friends due to social awkwardness.
This strain on social interaction can affect parent-child bonding as parents try to navigate these challenges.

Behavioural Indicators

Sometimes, what looks like a behavioural problem is a coping mechanism for an underlying learning disability.

Acts out in class (e.g., being the "class clown") to deflect attention from their academic struggles.
Appears highly disorganized or forgetful, constantly losing homework, books, or belongings.
Shows strong resistance to doing homework or going to school.
Is it a behaviour issue or a learning disability? Learn more here. Blog/Page on Behavioural Issues vs. Learning Disabilities

What to Do If You Suspect a Learning Disability

Seeing these signs in your child can be worrying. The most empowering thing you can do is take clear, informed action. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you move forward.

Step 1: Observe and Document with Our Checklist

Before speaking to anyone, gather your thoughts. Keep a log of specific examples and observations. Note when the behaviour happens, what the task was, and how your child reacted. This documentation will be invaluable.

Your Practical Learning Disability Symptoms Checklist for Parents

To help you organize your observations, we've created a comprehensive checklist. It covers key areas like reading, writing, math, motor skills, and social behaviour, allowing you to present a clear picture to teachers and professionals. [Download Our Free Symptoms Checklist Here]

Step 2: Communicate with Your Child's School

Schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. Share your observations calmly and ask for their perspective. Teachers see your child in an academic setting and can provide crucial insights into how they perform compared to their peers. Work with them as a team.

Step 3: Seek a Professional Multidisciplinary Assessment

While a school's input is helpful, a formal, comprehensive evaluation from a qualified team is necessary to get a definitive diagnosis. An assessment will rule out other potential causes (like vision/hearing problems or ADHD) and identify the specific nature of the learning disability. This is the key to unlocking the right support.

Get clarity and a clear path forward. Learning Disabilities Assessment service page

Step 4: Explore Personalized Therapy and Support Programs

A diagnosis is not a label; it's a roadmap. Based on the assessment, our team can recommend personalized interventions. This may include Occupational Therapy to improve fine motor and sensory skills, Special Education to teach new academic strategies, or Child Counselling for emotional support. This kind of targeted pediatric therapy makes all the difference.

Discover our comprehensive support programs. Main Learning Disabilities Therapy hub page

Meet the Experts Who Understand Learning Disability Symptoms

An accurate diagnosis depends on the expertise of the professionals involved. At Cadabam’s CDC, your child is in the hands of a collaborative team dedicated to pediatric development.

Clinical Psychologists & Rehabilitation Psychologists: Conduct comprehensive psychological and psycho-educational assessments to understand your child's cognitive and learning profile.
Speech-Language Pathologists: Assess for language-based processing issues that underlie many learning disabilities.
Occupational Therapists: Evaluate crucial areas like sensory integration, visual-motor skills, and fine motor skills that impact writing and coordination.
Special Educators: Understand the direct academic impact of learning disabilities and design evidence-based strategies to help children learn effectively.

"Recognizing the symptoms is the first, brave step. Our goal at Cadabam’s is not just to put a label on the challenge, but to uncover the child's unique strengths and build a bridge to confident learning." - Lead Child Psychologist at Cadabam's CDC.

A Journey of Progress: Anjali's Story

Real stories show the power of the right support.

The Challenge: Anjali's parents noticed their bright, talkative 7-year-old daughter became withdrawn and frustrated. She would cry when it was time to read and struggled to follow conversations in groups, leading to conflicts with friends.
The Process: They brought her to Cadabam's CDC. Our multidisciplinary assessment identified dyslexia and related social-emotional difficulties stemming from her constant struggle to keep up.
The Solution & Outcome: We created an individualized program for Anjali that combined special education to build phonemic awareness, occupational therapy to help with focus and organization, and parent coaching to create a supportive home environment. Today, Anjali volunteers to read in class and has learned strategies to navigate social situations with confidence.