Learning difficulties in children attending a special clinic at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital

Abstract

Objectives To identify presentations of children withlearning difficulties attending Child Psychiatry andGuidance Clinic (CPGC) at Lady Ridgeway Hospital(LRH) and describe their socio-demographiccharacteristics, health-seeking behaviour and modesof referral.Design Descriptive cross sectional study.Method Children diagnosed to have learningdifficulties or attention deficit hyperactive disorder(ADHD), presenting to CPGC at LRH from 27 Mayto 10 June 2003, were included in study. Learningdifficulties were diagnosed by a child psychiatristusing DSM IV criteria. A pre-tested, intervieweradministered questionnaire (IAQ) was used to collectsocio-demographic data, details on health-seekingbehaviour and modes of referral from parents/guardians. A checklist was used to identifypresentations.Results 52 children with learning difficulties wereidentified and all participated in study. Presentationswere with difficulties in reading (70%), mathematics(60%), writing (55%), communication (45%) andmotor skills (50%). ADHD was found in 60% cases.85% were males. Mean age was 9 years. 31% haddeficit of schooling. 54% were urban dwellers.Caretaker was mother in 83% cases. Monthly incomewas greater than 3000 rupees in 92% cases. 89%children were identified by mother or teacher. Initialvisits were made to a specialist unit (62%) or aprimary health care service (31%).Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2003; 32: 96-104(Key words: Learning difficulties, children) doi: 10.4038/sljch.v32i4.692