Children with learning disabilities often demonstrate confusion and difficulty with words. They confuse similar words and have problems reading and pronouncing multi-syllable words. Another characteristic common to children with learning disabilities is a slow reading rate and difficulty with comprehension and retention of material that they read. However, they may have no problem comprehending and retaining material that is read aloud to them. Their written work is usually poorly structured with many grammatical and spelling errors, especially letter reversals. Their letters are poorly formed, and they often use capital and lower-case letters interchangeably.
Children with learning disabilities often betray an inability to memorize basic facts, such as "2 + 2 = 4." They often confuse numbers that resemble each other, such as six and nine. Many children with disabilities write numbers or operational symbols backwards. They also have trouble comprehending basic math concepts and abstract concepts.
Inability to concentrate is a common characteristic of a child with a learning disability. Poor organization and poor time management are also common. Such children struggle to maintain organized class notes and other written materials. They frequently misplace or confuse class notes. They have trouble following directions and often need additional time to complete assignments, both in class and with homework.
A child may be exhibiting a sign of learning disability if he or she has trouble reading facial expressions or other body language. Most people can interpret non-verbal cues in others, but children with learning disabilities often struggle to interpret these gestures. Even a head nod (indicating the affirmative) may confuse them. Children with learning disabilities also have trouble interpreting tones, such as sarcasm. They become confused and disoriented in social groups. Often, they also have difficulty telling time and have poor senses of direction.