Does your student show signs of ADHD — or a learning disabilities? Educators and parents, use this chart to determine which symptoms suggest dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, auditory processing disorder, language processing disorder, and/or nonverbal learning disorder.
Q: One of my eighth-grade students has trouble with attention and focus when I give her a reading assignment. She stares out the window or looks around the classroom. She has problems reading most material, whether it’s reading aloud or on a computer screen. Could she have a learning disability, not ADHD?
The chart below lists symptoms of learning disabilities that will give you clues as to the source of your student’s challenges. If you notice symptoms, talk with the psychologist and parents about an evaluation.
FOR THESE CLASSROOM SYMPTOMS…
CONSIDER THIS
Difficulty recognizing subtle differences in sounds in words.
Trouble differentiating which direction a sound comes from.
Finds it hard to block out background noise.
Difficulty making sense of the order of sounds.
May process thoughts slowly.
Trouble understanding metaphors, jokes, and sarcasm.