During middle and high school, a heavier emphasis is placed on reading and writing in nearly every subject. Students are also required to juggle more difficult courses and activities on their own. For a student with a learning disability, this can be extra stressful. For educators and parents, it means that there are more opportunities to recognize a possible learning disability.

1. Difficulty with reading

Reading difficulties may become less noticeable as students spend more time on silent reading. Students with learning disabilities will often try to avoid reading out loud or reading at all. A strong dislike for reading becomes more evident. Comprehension continues to suffer and students often misread information and have difficulty summarizing what they've read.

2. Struggles with writing

One of the areas in which you have the most opportunities to recognize learning difficulties is cheap custom writing, especially in higher grades as students are required to turn in more writing assignments. In addition to a strong dislike of writing and attempting to avoid writing assignments all together, watch for transposed letters and the use of different spellings for the same word within an assignment.

3. Lacks organizational skills

As students become more responsible for working independently, lack of organizational skills will become more evident for a child with a learning disability. This can be seen in a messy bedroom, desk, or schoolbag, as well actual assignments.

4. Struggles with classroom discussion

A student with a learning disability may have difficulty following classroom discussions. She can become lost in all of the verbal information and also struggle to express her own thoughts out loud. Open-ended questions and abstract ideas are also common problems.

5. Trouble with math skills

A learning disability that affects math skills becomes especially evident in middle and high school years as students are expected to learn more complicated concepts. A student with learning difficulties in math will have trouble grasping these new ideas. Concepts of time, estimating, and mental math are particularly difficult.

6. Social difficulties

A student with a learning disability often faces social difficulties for two reasons. First, the same issues that cause trouble processing information, planning, and adjusting to change also affect the student's understanding of social interactions. Second, insecurity about his learning disability can prompt him to become withdrawn. Pay attention to the way your student interacts with his peers and if he has trouble making friends.

As children with learning disabilities progress through school, they learn how to disguise their problems. Being mindful of the potential signs of a learning disability will help you make sure that none of your students fall through the cracks.