Many adults have undiagnosed learning disabilities that affect their everyday life. Assistive technology tools like Speechify can make a difference.

Signs of a learning disability in adults

One in every 59 children has some form of a learning disorder. Reading and learning disabilities affect up to 10% of children in the entire world. While symptoms of learning disabilities usually start appearing when we are young, they are often left undiagnosed. Individuals with learning difficulties often grow up without the help they need, which can lead to intellectual disabilities, low self-esteem, and mental health issues.

What are some common types of learning disabilities?

Some of the most common learning disabilities include dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.

Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder that affects both children and adults. Individuals with dyslexia have difficulty connecting verbal and written language, which can lead to reading, writing, and learning difficulties. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is also quite common. People with ADHD find it difficult to concentrate for a long period.

Dysgraphia refers to struggling with writing legibly or even holding a pen properly. On the other hand, dyscalculia is when people have difficulty understanding mathematical equations and counting. 

Many factors could be the reason behind learning difficulties, and it’s not just genetics. Some can occur while the baby is still in the womb due to drinking alcohol. Other possible indications could be low birth weight and premature birth. But these usually indicate more serious disorders like Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder. Less serious learning disabilities can be caused by psychological and physical trauma, like a head injury or a nervous system infection.

Signs of learning disabilities in adults

It’s much easier to tell if a child has a specific learning disability. However, with adults, the symptoms can be much more subtle. If you’re not sure whether you have a learning disability, these are the most common signs to look for:

Issues with memory

One of the more subtle signs of a learning disability is having problems remembering things. This not only applies to forgetting important pieces of information but also forgetting where things are or specific events. However, if the memory issues persist and occur more regularly, it may be a sign of a much more serious problem.

Having a hard time with reading and writing

If a child doesn’t master reading and writing skills at the age they’re expected to, this could lead to a hard time with reading and writing in the future. If it takes you a long time to read a sentence, write an email, or you have trouble spelling, you might have undiagnosed dyslexia.

Difficulty developing social skills

Adults who have a hard time socializing and who simply find it challenging to connect with people may have a learning disability, which can cause them to be forgetful, frustrated, or angry. These types of learning disabilities can also make you want to postpone gatherings or procrastinate, which prevents you from staying in touch with family and friends. If you recognize these patterns, you may have a nonverbal learning disability.

Issues with staying focused

If you can’t focus for a long time, this could also be a sign you have a learning disorder. This short attention span could be ADHD. For instance, if you can never finish your work in one sitting or find it challenging to follow a conversation, you might have this learning disorder. Lack of focus could lead to difficulties completing everyday tasks or doing your job properly.

Math problems

While having poor math skills is not an immediate cause for concern, it can point to dyscalculia. You may have this learning difficulty if you find counting challenging or if you struggle with sums and sequences. Another common sign you may have dyscalculia is that you find it hard to tell time.

Issues with critical thinking and problem-solving

Adults who have trouble with problem-solving and critical thinking could also have a learning disability. For instance, if you seem to be disoriented and you find it hard to follow directions, these could be signs of a learning disability that needs to be addressed.

Speechify – An assistive technology

If you have any of these types of learning disabilities or face these symptoms on a daily basis, Speechify can help you.

Speechify is an assistive technology platform that uses text to speech – it converts written text into spoken language. It can aid those with learning differences in many ways. It’s especially helpful to those who have reading difficulties. Speechify can also be helpful to young learners who are generally having a hard time at school.

You can use Speechify on your computer as a Chrome extension or download it on your phone. Try Speechify for free today.

FAQ

What are the four major types of learning disabilities?

The four most common types of learning disabilities include dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia.

How do I know if I have a learning disability?

The most common signs of a learning disability include trouble focusing, reading, writing, doing math, remembering, and socializing.

What are the three most common learning disabilities?

The three most common learning disabilities are dyslexia, ADHD, and dysgraphia.

What can adults do if they have a learning disability?

Some of the learning disabilities mentioned above require special education programs and assistive technology. No matter what type of learning disability you might have, early intervention is important. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, if you don’t act in time, it could lead to many other problems and mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.

What are the symptoms of dyslexia?

Any reading issues can point to dyslexia. Some of the most common ones include learning problems, finding it hard to process information, difficulty reading and writing, having a hard time learning new words, having trouble with directions, a delay in speaking as a child, and auditory issues. It’s also genetic, so if you have a family member with dyslexia, you could have it too.

What are the primary ways to diagnose a learning disability?

In most cases, you need to be evaluated to determine whether you have a learning disability. Young individuals can see a school psychologist or a pediatric specialist. Adults are also urged to go through a special assessment provided by a healthcare professional.