Academic abilities are usually divided into different skills, such as reading, spelling, writing, and math. A child might have an IQ within the normal range, but have problems at school with one or more of these areas. You might not even notice the problem until your child goes to school, where he now needs to put all his thinking skills together in problem-solving and learning activities. For example, reading involves visual memory, auditory memory, language development, and letter recognition. If your child has a weakness in any of these areas, it might interfere with his ability to learn to read. Your child might need extra support at school.
Children born premature are at high risk for developing a learning disability, so you will want to watch this area carefully. Research suggests that most children who are born premature have difficulties learning in all subjects, rather than a specific learning disability in one area. However, disruptions in white matter development can contribute specifically to later problems with math. Also, a child who learned to talk later can also experience early problems with reading and spelling. If your child does have a developmental difference in how he thinks and learns, it’s good to pick it up early. Earlier intervention means better outcomes over the long term.