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.