Red Flags.

If a child exhibits 5 or more of the listed characteristics on a consistent basis, he/she may have a learning difference and be "at risk" for future academic problems. If parents or teachers are concerned, a developmental assessment, including a speech/language evaluation is recommended.

Red flags for children aged 3-5

Red flags for school-aged children (first grade or above)

Does your child ...

  1. • have difficulty following through on simple directions without assistance?

  2. • use gestures or phrases instead of complete sentences?

  3. • have trouble recalling names and overuses the words "it", "they", "she", "he", and "things"?

  4. • exhibit inconsistent understanding of basic language concepts such as "in/out", "under/over", "before/after", "front/back", etc?

  5. • exhibit undue anxiety when presented with new situations (such as going to a birthday party or change in routine)

  6. • resolve conflicts through hitting rather than working through conflicts verbally?

  7. • have a difficult time in social or academic settings even though he/she appears to be bright?

  8. • get out of control in unstructured settings?

  9. • have a hard time cooperating with peers or following along in group activities even though he/she may seem very verbal?

  10. • seem verbally "off topic" or inappropriate even though he/she is verbally precocious?


Does your child ...

  1. • have a difficult time in social or academic settings even though he/she appears to be bright?

  2. • have greater academic potential than he/she is exhibiting in the classroom setting?

  3. • seem verbally precocious but is frequently "of topic" and make inappropriate statements in certain situations?

  4. • have difficulty expressing himself to others in an organized way?

  5. • have trouble recalling names and overuses the words "it", "they", "she", "he", and "things"?

  6. • have poor comprehension skills?

  7. • have difficulty following a series of instructions?

  8. • have trouble turning letters into sounds and groups of letters into words?

  9. • have difficulty sequencing 4-8 events of a story or a movie?

  10. • have poor organizational skills; for example, desk is a mess, forgets assignments, coat, lunch?

  11. • exhibit inconsistencies in retaining learned material? (one day he/she understands it and the next day he/she doesn't seem to remember it.)