An exploratory analysis of the relationship between paternal age at pregnancy and difficulties symptomatic of specific learning disorders among Japanese undergraduate students / Journal of Rural Medicine

Objective: Causes and risk factors of neurodevelopmental disorders originate in the prenatal and perinatal periods. Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between prenatal and perinatal medical records, including maternal and paternal age at pregnancy, and the neurodevelopmental disorders, especially attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. However, previous studies showed an association between specific learning disorders and environmental toxins such as lead and tobacco smoke, but not parental age.Patients and Methods: This study included 993 university freshmen, and their prenatal and perinatal medical data was collected from maternal and child handbooks. A mental health assessment questionnaire consisting of 24 items covering symptoms associated with neurodevelopmental disorders was administered, corresponding to aspects of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and learning disorders. The relationship between prenatal and perinatal medical data and questionnaire results was statistically analyzed.Results: The number of available records was 881 (88.7%). Using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis and trend analysis, a weak but statistically significant relationship was confirmed between paternal age at pregnancy and the score for learning disorder difficulties.Conclusion: Error accumulation in meiosis during spermatogenesis may be one of the risk factors of learning disorders.

Phonological Awareness And Global Visual Spatial Ability Among Malay Speaking Children With Specific Learning Disorder With Dyslexia

@#Children with Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) faces challenges in academic areas and are often negatively labelled. The learning problems in SLD children were mainly due to poor phonological skill but not much was known about the contribution of visuospatial difficulties. Therefore, this study aims to determine the relationship between phonological awareness skills and global visual-spatial abilities among Malay speaking children with SLD, and to compare children with SLD and typical readers on intellectual functioning, phonological awareness and global visual-spatial ability. An equal number of typical readers (n = 36) and children with SLD were recruited. Data were coded and analysed using Kendall’s Tau-b, independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results showed phonological skills have strong negative correlation with global visual-spatial ability (r = .55). The typical readers have significantly higher IQ and better phonological skills and better global visual-spatial skills as compared to the group with SLD. However, there is no conclusive evidence due to specificity of more than one area measured by the assessment tools. Nevertheless, it provides a direction for future research to look into global visual-spatial aspects of SLD to aid in educational instruction in the future, in addition to the long-standing phonology deficit theory.

Formação docente: programa de atualização voltado para ações com alunos com distúrbios específicos de aprendizagem / Teacher training: update program geares toward actions with students with specific learning disorders

O sucesso de uma educação com qualidade compreende vários fatores que se relacionam e se somam para um processo educativo significativo, entre eles: estrutura física e financeira, políticas públicas de educação e formação profissional de qualidade. O professor trabalha com alunos que apresentam diferentes perfis e que por isso aprendem de formas diversas. Em meio a diversidade estão aqueles alunos que apresentam Distúrbios Específicos de Aprendizagem. Por isso, uma questão importante diz respeito a: como o professor constrói seus conhecimentos para atender as necessidades educacionais desse aluno? Ainda: diante de um cenário de sala de aula com diversas necessidades, o que norteia suas práticas e o que é modificado nas mesmas quando encontram um aluno com algum Distúrbio Específico de Aprendizagem? Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo elaborar e aplicar um programa de formação profissional sobre os distúrbios específicos de aprendizagem para aprofundar os conhecimentos teóricos e práticos, de professores de 1º ao 5º ano do ensino fundamental, aferidos a partir de um questionário prévio. Para tanto, foi oportunizado um curso de Atualização para professores de 58 horas com a temática sobre os Distúrbios Específicos de Aprendizagem. Após a intervenção, por meio do curso de atualização no processo de formação continuada, houve significativa mudança na fala dos professores quanto aos conhecimentos e práticas em sala de aula, evidenciando a importância de uma formação profissional que contribua para a discussão e conhecimentos sobre o tema Distúrbios Específicos de Aprendizagem, tanto no modo inicial como continuado.(AU)

The success of a quality education comprises several factors that are related and added to a significant educational process, among them: physical and financial structure, public education policies and professional quality training. The teacher works with students who have different profiles, and learn of various forms. In the midst of the diversity are those students that present Specific Learning Disorders. Therefore, an important issue concerns: how the teacher build their knowledge to meet the educational needs of this student? Besides: in a classroom setting with diverse needs, what guides teachers practice and what is modified when they find a student with a Specific Learning Disorder? Thus, the present study aimed to develop and apply a program of professional training on the specific learning disorders to deepen theoretical and practical knowledge of teachers from 1st to 5th grade of elementary school, measured from a prior questionnaire. So, it was provided an update course for teachers of 58 hours with the theme of the Specific Learning Disorders. After the intervention, the course of continuous formation process update, there was significant improving in the teacher´s speech about the practices in the classroom, highlighting the importance of professional training to contribute to the discussion and knowledge on the subject of Specific Learning Disorders, both in initial mode as in continued mode.(AU)

Caracterización neuropsicológica en niños con diagnóstico de trastorno específico de aprendizaje en Cali, Colombia / Neuropsychological characteristics of children with specific learning disorders from Cali, Colombia

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar las funciones cognitivas en niños con antecedente de Trastorno Específico de Aprendizaje (TEA) en colegios privados de la ciudad de Cali, Colombia con un grupo control (GC). La muestra estuvo conformada por 37 sujetos con TEA y 28 sujetos en el grupo control (GC), de estrato socioeconómico medio-alto. La edad promedio fue de 9 años y la escolaridad de 4°. Los instrumentos utilizados para selección de los grupos fueron el Cuestionario de problemas de aprendizaje CEPA, subescalas de la Mini entrevista neuropsiquiátrica internacional para niños y adolescentes (M.I.N.I.- N-A), la Escala de inteligencia de Wechsler para niños WISC-R y subescalas de lectura, escritura y aritmética de la Batería de Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (ENI). Las funciones Cognitivas, fueron evaluadas con subescalas de la ENI. Los resultados muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p≤0.05) entre las medianas de funciones cognitivas de atención, memoria (codificación y evocación), comprensión del lenguaje, habilidades construccionales, espaciales y funciones ejecutivas. En conclusión, los niños con TEA presentan alteraciones neuropsicológicas subyacentes, que interfieren en el desempeño de tareas escolares. Convencionalmente se hacen intervenciones en lectura, escritura y cálculo, y no en sus prerrequisitos, por tanto, los resultados sugieren que se debe orientar la intervención a la estimulación de los procesos cognitivos comprometidos y no al síntoma específico.

The objective of this study was to compare the cognitive functions of children with a background of Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) with a control group (CG) in private schools in the city of Cali, Colombia. The sample consisted of 37 subjects with SLD and 28 subjects in the control group (CG), from medium-high socioeconomic status. The mean age was 9 years old, and the average level of education was 4th grade. The instruments used for selecting the groups were the Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CEPA), subscales of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children WISC-R, and subscales of reading, writing and arithmetic of the Batería de Evaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil (ENI) [Child neuropsychological assessment battery]. Cognitive functions were assessed with subscales of the ENI. The results show statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the medians of cognitive functions of attention, memory (codification and evocation), language comprehension, constructional abilities, spatial and executive functions. In conclusion, children with SLD have underlying neuropsychological alterations that interfere with the performance of homework. Usually, interventions are made in reading, writing and arithmetic and not in their prerequisites, therefore, the results suggest that the intervention should be directed to the stimulation of cognitive processes involved and not the specific symptom.