Understanding Children with Specific Learning Disability and Comorbid Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Retrospective Analysis of Case Records

Title- understanding children with specific learning disabilityand comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A retrospective analysis of case records.

Objectives -To study the clinical and psychoeducational profile of children with specific learning disability (SLD) and comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methodology-The study was a retrospective analysis of case records of children, between the ages of 7 and 17registered from January 2014 to December 2014, in a private clinic in Hyderabad, where psychiatric outpatient services are provided. A total of 38 case records were selected. The clinical and psychoeducational profile of children with SLD and comorbid ADHD was studied. The results obtained were analyzed using SPSS 22.

Results – The results showed that the comorbidity was more common in boys than girls and most children were between the ages of 7 to 9 years and studying in second and third class. Reading disorder was the most common subtype of SLD comorbid with ADHD, whereas both inattentive type and combined type of ADHD were equally associated with SLD in our sample. The most common class teacher observations were that the child was fidgety, inattentive,and poor in spellings and had difficulty in getting along with peers. Delay in development was found in around 24% of the children.

Conclusion- SLD and ADHD individually lead to academic difficulties. The combination results in an additive disadvantage. Due to the high degree of comorbidity between the two disorders, children presenting with one should be evaluated for the other as well and adequately addressed.