Clinical profile of children with specific learning disability presenting to a psychiatric clinic

Abstract

Background: Specific learning disability (SLD) is highly prevalent in school going children. Early detection and remedial training may benefit these children. Objectives: Our study aimed to assess the clinical profile and co-morbid psychiatric disorders of children with specific learning disability in an Indian setting. Materials and Methods: 160 consecutive children who were diagnosed as SLD by psycho educational testing during the period of January 2014 to January 2015, in the Department of Psychiatry, at Amala Institute of Medial Sciences, Thrissur were taken as the sample. Subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess socio-demographic details. Edinburgh Handedness Inventory was used to assess handedness and Family Interview of Genetics studies were used to systematically assess family history. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests using SPSS statistical software version 16. Results: Specific learning disability was more common in boys (82.5 %) and is more commonly referred for evaluation in the age group of 10-15 years (56.2%). Sixty per cent children had co-morbid ADHD. Other co morbid conditions were conduct and oppositional defiant disorder (20%), anxiety disorder (15%) and depression (7%). We found a significant association between dysgraphia, dyslexia and age group 5-9 years and 10-15 years (P= 0.0015, 0.0152 respectively). Conclusion: Awareness regarding specific learning disability among parents, teachers and children are essential for early detection and timely intervention. Children referred with any behavioral and emotional disorders need to be assessed for SLD. Co-morbidity of other psychiatric disorders worsens the prognosis.