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Q: My son is intelligent, but he is not doing well in elementary school, despite working really hard. He has a hard time understanding what he is reading and I am worried he may have a learning disability. What can I do to help him?
A: Learning disabilities are common and may affect up to 20% of the population. When a child has difficulty mastering specific skills over time despite a good effort, it may indicate a learning disability.
Some symptoms that may be observed with learning disorders include: being a slow reader or struggling with reading comprehension; having a hard time remembering what was just read or what was just said; reversing letters or numbers in writing or reading after the first or second grade; having poor handwriting or difficulty using scissors; showing deficiencies in coordination; having a hard time understanding instructions or staying organized; and problems with recognizing patterns.