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Learning Disabilities Across the Lifespan

College and Adulthood


The college and adult years are a time for refining the self. More independence from the family and the development of inner resources is highlighted. The self becomes more of the focus during the early 20's. More confidence and a willingness to express oneself is significant. Here self advocacy becomes a critical component of success. Being able to share with others one's individual learning strengths and needs as well as needed accommodations will assist in increasing independence.

The focus of the academic curriculum is the evaluation of the newly learned skills. The skills mastered in junior/senior high school are carried over and built on. Successful learning depends on the student's ability to look at material from another's point of view, and respond to the material critically. This is also evident for those who choose to move into the world of work. The constant acquisition of newly learned skills is continually applied in the work setting.

College students and adults who are struggling may present with difficulties in the following areas, but not limited to:
  • Reverses letter sequences (soiled/solid, left/felt)
  • Slow to learn prefixes, suffixes, root words, and other spelling strategies
  • Avoids reading aloud
  • Trouble with word problems
  • Difficulty with handwriting
  • Awkward, fist-like, or tight pencil grip
  • Avoids writing compositions
  • Slow or poor recall of facts
  • Difficulty making friends
  • Trouble understanding body language and facial expressions
  • Continues to spell incorrectly, frequently spell the same word differently in a single piece of writing
  • Avoids reading and writing tasks
  • Trouble summarizing
  • Trouble with open-ended questions on tests
  • Weak memory skills
  • Difficulty adjusting to new settings
  • Works slowly
  • Poor grasp of abstract concepts
  • Either pays too little attention to details or focuses on them too much
  • Misreads information
  • Struggles with organization and time management