Many of the indicators on these lists apply to a number of children at the early stages.  For example many children reverse letters until the age of 8.  Concerns should be raised when such difficulties persist and/or are resistant to help.  Parents may wish to discuss with the school their concerns if these difficulties persist.

Learning difficulties

• delayed speech and language development;
• pronouncing multi-syllabic words like butterfly which may be pronounced flutterby;
• sequencing of speech and use of language;
• strange spelling patterns;
• word retrieval (forgetting words for the purpose of labelling objects);
• misreading basic common words.
  

Memory difficulties

• short term;
• long term;
• working memory;
• sequencing the days of the week, months of the year, alphabet, nursery rhymes.
  

Auditory difficulties

• discrimination of sounds/words;
• sound blending;
• phonological awareness (can’t hear the rhymes in words or alliteration).

Visual difficulties

• poor left-right orientation;
• letter order confusion;
• leaves letters out of words or puts letters in the wrong order;
• b/d or similar letter confusion and/or numeral confusion e.g. 3/5;
• word confusion when reading  (was/saw);
• mirror writing.
  

General difficulties

• poor organisational skills (self and work);
• good days and bad days;
• poor self-esteem;
• family history of similar difficulties;
• poor co-ordination and clumsiness;
• poor handwriting and fine motor control;
• poor concentration span;
• following instructions.