The following are questions that you can use to see if someone may be at risk of learning disabilities. The questions should be used with individuals who show competencies in many areas, but demonstrate difficulties that cannot be explained by lack of education, low intelligence or mental health/addiction problems.

I am going to read some statements and I want you to tell me whether they describe you at home, school or work.You can answer: Never, Sometimes, or Often Please indicate the answer most appropriate
I remember faces but have trouble remembering people’s names

Never

Sometimes

Often

I learn best when someone shows me what to do

Never

Sometimes

Often

If a job is broken up into small chunks, I perform better.I have difficulty remembering the order that must be followed when I am given instructions

Never

Sometimes

Often

I respond well to written instruction, but have trouble understanding what people are saying to me, especially when they speak quickly

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble thinking of the right word to say or write, even when I know the word

Never

Sometimes

Often

I write well, but get confused when I’m trying to explain things to people.

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble pronouncing long words

Never

Sometimes

Often

I am a good speaker, but when I read, the words and letters seem to jump around on the page

Never

Sometimes

Often

I lose my place easily when I am reading

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble sounding out new words

Never

Sometimes

Often

I can sound out words, but I don’t remember what words look like

Never

Sometimes

Often

I remember things I hear, but misspell small words as often as big words

Never

Sometimes

Often

I can spell the same word several ways in the same story

Never

Sometimes

Often

I understand a story better if someone reads it to me

Never

Sometimes

Often

I usually remember verbal instructions, but have to read things several times before I understand them

Never

Sometimes

Often

I lose my place when copying from the blackboard or an overhead

Never

Sometimes

Often

I organize my spoken conversation well, but my handwriting is hard for other people to read

Never

Sometimes

Often

I express myself better when speaking than when writing

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble getting my ideas down on paper

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have lots of good ideas in meetings, but other people don’t understand what I am trying to say in my writing

Never

Sometimes

Often

I sometimes reverse letters or numbers, or get them in the wrong order

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have excellent reading abilities, but trouble remembering multiplication tables

Never

Sometimes

Often

I write well, but have trouble figuring out what they’re asking in math word problems

Never

Sometimes

Often

I make mistakes when working through math problems that have several steps

Never

Sometimes

Often

I can’t figure out what formulas to use in math questions

Never

Sometimes

Often

I know what to do in math questions, but I get the calculations wrong if I don’t use a calculator

Never

Sometimes

Often

It takes me a while to find my way around a new place

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble judging distances

Never

Sometimes

Often

I confuse left and right

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble judging how much time tasks are going to take to complete

Never

Sometimes

Often

I am often late getting places

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble finding things on a cluttered desk

Never

Sometimes

Often

Jigsaw puzzles are something I’ve always avoided

Never

Sometimes

Often

I get confused when I’m trying to do too many things at once

Never

Sometimes

Often

I have trouble finding the right place to fill in information on forms

Never

Sometimes

Often

I get along with people at work, but I sit by myself at lunch

Never

Sometimes

Often

I love social gatherings, but tend to interrupt discussions

Never

Sometimes

Often

Driving is something I have always avoided

Never

Sometimes

Often

Everyone has problems with these areas some of the time, but if there are many questions answered “often”, it may be useful to look further into the possibility of learning disabilities.