There is no magic formula to reveal learning differences. As a parent, you know your child best and should rely on your instincts when you feel that something is not right with your child’s learning experiences.
Signs that your child may have a learning difference include:

• Difficulty rhyming—when asked to name a word that rhymes with “cat,” she may give a related word or opposite such as “dog” rather than a word like “bat’ that actually rhymes
• A hard time learning and remembering the alphabet, colors, or how to count
• Difficulty finding the right word in conversation, or using a similar but incorrect word (for example, “tornado” for “volcano”)
• Slow to learn the relationship between letters and sounds
• Difficulty telling time or following directions in sequence
• Difficulty with math word problems
• Inconsistent spelling of the same word
• Unable to understand or remember what she reads
• Works slowly

• Avoid reading and writing
• Complain of stomachaches or other physical symptoms—these may be real symptoms brought on by anxiety, or concocted as a way to avoid going to school or doing work
• Have sleep problems or insomnia due to anxiety over school performance
• Take a long time to complete homework assignments, or give up in frustration