Psychiatric Implications of Language Disorders and Learning Disabilities: Risks and Management

Abstract

This article reviews the relationship between different learning disabilities, language disorders, and the psychiatric disorders that are commonly associated with learning disabilities and language disorder: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depression, and conduct or antisocial personality disorder. The complex associations between language disorders and specific learning disabilities—dyslexia, nonverbal learning disorder, dyscalculia—and the various psychiatric disorders are discussed. Clinical vignettes are presented to highlight the impact of these disorders on a child's social and psychological development and the importance of early recognition and treatment. ( J Child Neurol 2004;19:814—826).