Clinical Diagnosis and Non-Verbal Ability of Primary-One School Children with LD

ABSTRACT

More school children were referred for learning difficutly (LD), especially after the introduction of LINUS sccreening programme by Ministry of Education Malaysia. To study the clinical diagnosis and non-verbal ability of primary-one school children with LD after paediatric assessment, as well as associated behavioural issues and socio-economincal background. Assessment findings by Paediatricians and Naglieri Non-Verbal Ability Test® (NNAT®) results of all primary-one school children referred in year 2010 with LD were studied retrospectively. Ninety-three children were included (62.4% male), and 72.0% of them failed the LINUS screening programme. The commonest diagnoses were Borderline Intellectual Disability (ID, 37.6%) and Mild ID (19.4%). Other diagnoses included Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD, 11.8%), Specific Learning Disability (SLD, 10.8%), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (n = 5) and Severe Language Disorder (n = 3). Mean NNAT scores were 84.6 ± 11.8 (n = 85), of which 9.4% children scored less than 70 (<2nd percentile), while 63.7% scored between 71 and 90 (3rd-24th percentile). Twenty-three children(27.1%) scored 90 - 110 (25th-75th percentile) and 111-119 (76th-90th percentile). More than two-thirds of the parents never attended school, or only received education up to Form 3. Nearly 80% of mothers were housewife and 78.7% of fathers were labour or semi-skilled workers. A significant numbers of children with ADHD, Borderline ID, Mild ID and Severe Language Disorder / SLD had significant or borderline internalizing and/or externalizing behaviours.Majority of primary-one school children referred for LD do not have intellectual disability. Their clinical diagnosis and non-verbal ability were very variable. A significant number of them have poor socio-economical background and associated behavioural problems. A more realistic education system and targeted program should be offered.