Signs of Learning Disabilities
Some disabilities may be hidden or, not noticeable in normal student and instructor interactions, and may have gone undiagnosed prior to college enrollment. Most students with disabilities will display a cluster of behaviors, but not all behaviors typical of a disability. Instructors that identify a student with the below behaviors are recommended to meet with the student and discuss their options, including a referral to DSS.
Reading Skills
§ Poor word recognition and/or analysis
§ Slow reading rate
§ Problems with comprehension
§ Difficulty retaining information that has been read
§ Confusion of similar words or word sounds
§ Word-find difficulties
Writing Skills
§ Poorly formed or illegible handwriting
§ Preference for printing rather than cursive
§ Using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters as well as cursive and print
§ Difficulty with organization of ideas
Mathematical Skills
§ Difficulty with fundamental operations and an incomplete mastery of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division
§ Reversing numbers
§ Problems keeping columns
§ Confusing operational symbols and similar numbers
§ Problems with abstract concepts
§ Problems with mentally computing calculations
Language Skills
§ Difficulty expressing ideas out loud
§ Difficulty remembering or understanding oral instruction
§ Difficulty concentrating on lectures during a class period
§ Difficulty listening and taking notes at the same time
§ Vocabulary weaknesses
§ Difficulty with foreign languages
§ Misinterpreting subtleties of language
Study Skills
_Time management difficulties
§ Difficulty completing open-ended, unstructured, or last-minute assignments
§ Difficulty selecting relevant from irrelevant details
§ Difficulty organizing time and materials to prepare for tests
§ Appearing somewhat disorganized
§ Anxiety, anger, or depression because of extra difficulty in coping with school or social situations
Reading Skills
§ Poor word recognition and/or analysis
§ Slow reading rate
§ Problems with comprehension
§ Difficulty retaining information that has been read
§ Confusion of similar words or word sounds
§ Word-find difficulties
Writing Skills
§ Poorly formed or illegible handwriting
§ Preference for printing rather than cursive
§ Using a combination of upper- and lower-case letters as well as cursive and print
§ Difficulty with organization of ideas
Mathematical Skills
§ Difficulty with fundamental operations and an incomplete mastery of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division
§ Reversing numbers
§ Problems keeping columns
§ Confusing operational symbols and similar numbers
§ Problems with abstract concepts
§ Problems with mentally computing calculations
Language Skills
§ Difficulty expressing ideas out loud
§ Difficulty remembering or understanding oral instruction
§ Difficulty concentrating on lectures during a class period
§ Difficulty listening and taking notes at the same time
§ Vocabulary weaknesses
§ Difficulty with foreign languages
§ Misinterpreting subtleties of language
Study Skills
_Time management difficulties
§ Difficulty completing open-ended, unstructured, or last-minute assignments
§ Difficulty selecting relevant from irrelevant details
§ Difficulty organizing time and materials to prepare for tests
§ Appearing somewhat disorganized
§ Anxiety, anger, or depression because of extra difficulty in coping with school or social situations