Learning Disabilities are lifelong, not just childhood challenges.
Learning disabilities affect approximately 5 to 15 percent of adults, often manifesting in difficulties with reading, writing, math, or processing information. Many adults go undiagnosed, often attributing their struggles to personal shortcomings instead of recognizing an underlying learning disability. The definition of what constitutes a learning disability has evolved over the years, but the fundamental principle remains the same: An individual has a learning disability when they have average to above-average intellectual ability, but are struggling in one or more academic areas.
Tip: Identifying a learning disability in adulthood can unlock workplace accommodations, college support, and strategies to improve your daily life.
Signs of Learning Disabilities in Adults:
- Difficulty reading or frequently misinterpreting written instructions.
- Struggles with spelling and written expression.
- Trouble with basic math, time management, or organization.
- Slow processing speed—taking longer than peers to complete tasks.
- Frequently loses track of conversations or instructions.
- Difficulty remembering names, sequences, or directions.
Stat: Approximately 1 in 3 adults with learning disabilities also have ADHD, making a dual diagnosis common.
Your Rights Under the ADA and IDEA
Although the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) primarily supports school-aged individuals, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that learning disabilities are recognized in higher education and the workplace. Adults with learning disabilities may qualify for:
- College accommodations, such as extended test time or note-taking assistance.
- Workplace modifications, including voice-to-text software or flexible deadlines.
- Assistive technology to improve reading, writing, and organization.
Our Evaluation Process
For anyone to exhibit a specific learning disability, there are two key criteria:
- The person must exhibit an academic deficit that can be linked to a processing deficit in one of the areas assessed. For example, low reading comprehension skills linked to weak verbal abilities.
- The person must exhibit a significant discrepancy between their overall ability level and one or more academic areas. This means something (a learning disability) is preventing them from working to their full potential in that particular area.
We assess the following processing skills:
- Verbal Abilities
- Reasoning Abilities
- Long-Term Memory
- Short-Term Memory
- Auditory Processing
- Visual Processing
- Processing Speed
We then assess the following academic areas:
- Basic Reading Skills
- Reading Comprehension (both timed and untimed)
- Reading Fluency
- Phonological Processing
- Math Calculations (both timed and untimed)
- Math Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Oral Expression
- Listening Comprehension
- Spelling
Each of these skills plays a vital role in a person’s ability to learn, retain, and apply new information. A thorough evaluation will provide the most accurate diagnosis and help create a path forward with clear support strategies. Whether you’re a professional seeking workplace accommodations or a college student needing support, an evaluation is the first step toward gaining clarity.