Learning Disabilities

Symptoms and signs of a learning disability vary by age. Younger children may be slow to talk, have trouble learning to count or say the alphabet. As children age, they may not be able to learn new words or math skills like their peers. They may have trouble writing down thoughts, have poor spelling or bad handwriting. Learning disabilities can be hard to identify and need to be diagnosed by professionals.

Interventions can help children cope with learning disabilities and keep up with their peers at school. Specialized learning programs can be tailored to your child’s individual needs, giving him or her the tools he or she needs to learn. Many children with learning disabilities are successful in school and their careers after they receive assistance from child development and educational experts.

Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities

Doctors at Riley at IU Health diagnose learning disabilities through a comprehensive evaluation. 

During the evaluation, your child's provider will take an extensive developmental history to determine any health problems, what is going on in your child’s life and the history of his or her behavior. Your child's provider will also observe your child and how he or she behaves and interacts during the appointment.  

You may be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire or checklist. If needed, your child may be brought back for an appointment to undergo psychological testing, speech testing and/or a medical examination. This testing, often in the form of activities or games, lets your child’s provider identify symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis.
 
After the evaluation, you will receive a detailed report about your child's specific condition as well as a list of community resources that can help your child. The report allows all caregivers and professionals who care for your child to apply consistent techniques to help him or her improve.