Learning disabilities: detection and neurological assessment in school going children

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was diagnosis of learning disability with the help of various screening tools. Methods: The study was done on 371 children from an English medium school from 3 rd and 4 th standard in the age group of 9 to 11 years. All the children were firstly evaluated on the basis of their school reports followed by various screening tools such as behavioral checklist for screening the learning disability (BCSLD), diagnostic test for learning disability (DTLD), quick neurological screening test (QNST) and intelligence test . Results: It was found that out of total 371 children only 3 children were diagnosed to have learning disability, out which 2 had mild type and 1 had moderate type of learning disability. Conclusions: After screening a study population of 371 children, 3 children were diagnosed to have learning disability. Of these 3 children, 2 were found to have mild type and 1 was found to have moderate type of learning disability. All these 3 learning disability children were otherwise found to be healthy and of normal intelligence without any sociocultural or economic disadvantage. All the 3 children had some soft neurological signs as tested by QNST thereby falling in the suspicious range of learning disability. Incidence of learning disability from this study was 0.82%.