Often parents are the first to have concerns when preschoolers are not “on track” in their development. While a pediatrician or teacher may detect areas of delayed development, parents are more likely to notice uneven growth patterns.

If you suspect that your child is not developing like his peers, he may have a learning disability. A learning disability is a life-long disorder affecting how individuals with normal or above average intelligence select, retain or express information. It can affect children by:

• impairing one or more of the psychological processes involved in understanding and using spoken or written language and/or
• affecting the ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations.

Early detection of a learning disability is critical to a child’s self-esteem and to later success in school. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about one in six children will encounter a problem learning to read during the first three years of school.

One indication of a learning disability can be family history. If your child exhibits early signs of a learning disability and a family member has a confirmed learning difficulty, then it’s more likely that the child has this problem. Other warning signs of a learning disability, according to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, include:

• poor space perception
• poor coordination
• clumsiness
• a problem understanding what is said
• difficulty remembering what he sees or hears, as well as the order of what he sees or hears
• over-sensitivity to noise
• difficulty following simple directions
• delayed speech and language
• poor vocabulary
• frequent loss of emotional control
• under- or over-reaction to touch
• difficulty using hands to manipulate toys, puzzles, blocks, buttons, etc.
• a problem distinguishing shapes and colors.

Warning signs don’t necessarily indicate problems, but if you have concerns about behaviors, be sure to discuss them with your pediatrician at the next visit. Because these traits are common in all preschoolers’ development, it may be difficult to differentiate between a learning disability and normal development. To learn about age-appropriate behavior, read a book on child development, observe your child with peers or talk with her teacher or other early childhood professionals. Look for patterns of behavior that persist over a period of time.

If you suspect that your child has a learning disability, contact your local school system for a free evaluation. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (a federal law mandating a free and appropriate education for children, ages 3 to 21, with disabilities) authorizes this testing.

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