Prevalence of specific learning disability in children and its association with somatic symptom disorder – data from a tertiary care centre of South India

Abstract

Abstract Background: Specific learning disability is one of the neurodevelopmental disorders with problems in one of the basic skills such as reading, writing, and arithmetic. Identifying at an early age can lead to a proper referral and reduce the occurrence of psychosomatic symptoms. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of specific learning disability (SLD) in children aged 6–14 years who presented to the pediatric outpatient department (OPD) and to find out the association between SLD and somatic symptom disorder. A retrospective hospital-based study was done in the child guidance and rehabilitation center, department of paediatrics of a teaching hospital in Puducherry. Data from all children aged 6–14 years who came to the pediatric OPD during February 2017–2022 were included and all children with incomplete medical records, incomplete recording of assessment in the register of child guidance and rehabilitation center obvious hearing and visual impairment, those with an intellectual quotient <70, and all sick children were excluded from the study. The medical records of all patients who were evaluated by a child psychologist were audited through hospital information management software-specific learning disabilities were assessed using the NIMHANS Learning Disability score. The intelligence quotient was assessed using Malin’s Intelligence Scale for Indian Children. Results: A total of 5457 children aged 6–14 years were included and 364 children (364/5457; 6.6%) had different grades of SLD. The children who were presenting with somatic symptom disorder had (OR – 9.64, 95% confidence interval – 7.51– 12.37, P < 0.0001) a significant chance of having SLD. Conclusion: The prevalence of specific learning disabilities is 6.6%. There is a six-fold association between SLD and psychosomatic disorder.