Cognitive/Academic

• Excellent vocabulary and expression from a younger age
• Exceptional rote memory skills which might mask learning difficulties in youngsters
• Excellent attention to detail, but the individual will likely miss the big picture
• Individual may be early reader or have early reading difficulties – generally has difficulty with reading comprehension in relation to novel or abstract information
• Mathematics difficulties in areas of computation, word and abstract applications
• Concept formation and abstract reasoning may be significantly impaired
• Difficulties generalising information and applying learned information to new situations
• Strengths mostly in learning relates to simple rote auditory (heard information is remembered)

Physical

• Physical awkwardness and lack of coordination are common – youngsters do better in individual rather than team sports
• Difficulty learning to ride a bicycle, catch and/or kick a ball, hop and/or skip
• Physical difficulties may be more pronounced on the left side of the body
• Fine motor skills may be impaired handwriting, may be poor presentation and/or laborious
• Significant problems with spatial perception are quite common

Language/Communication

• Interpretation of information is more concrete and literal
• Less able to process nonverbal communication body language, facial expression and tone of voice may be lost on them
• Unable to read between the lines (impacts conversations and reading comprehension)
• Weaker social skills and have trouble making and keeping friends

Emotional/Behavioural

• May have difficulties adjusting to new situations, or changes to their routine
• Can lack common sense, or street smarts, and can be incredibly naïve
• Anxiety and/or depression are common, especially during adolescence
• Can have low self-esteem
• Can be withdrawn and they may become agoraphobic