Department of Pediatrics, J N Medical College, Belgaum 590010, India.
Indian J Pediatr. 2012 Mar;79(3):342-7. doi: 10.1007/s12098-011-0553-3. Epub 2011 Sep 2.
To measure the prevalence of specific learning disabilities (SpLDs) such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia among primary school children in a South Indian city.
A cross-sectional multi-staged stratified randomized cluster sampling study was conducted among children aged 8-11 years from third and fourth standard. A six level screening approach that commenced with identification of scholastic backwardness followed by stepwise exclusion of impaired vision and hearing, chronic medical conditions and subnormal intelligence was carried out among these children. In the final step, the remaining children were subjected to specific tests for reading, comprehension, writing and mathematical calculation.
The prevalence of specific learning disabilities was 15.17% in sampled children, whereas 12.5%, 11.2% and 10.5% had dysgraphia, dyslexia and dyscalculia respectively.
This study suggests that the prevalence of SpLDs is at the higher side of previous estimations in India. The study is unique due to its large geographically representative design and identification of the problem using simplified screening approach and tools, which minimizes the number and time of specialist requirement and spares the expensive investigation. This approach and tools are suitable for field situations and resource scarce settings. Based on the authors' experience, they express the need for more prevalence studies, remedial education and policy interventions to manage SpLDs at main stream educational system to improve the school performance in Indian children.
在印度南部城市的小学生中测量特定学习障碍（如阅读障碍、书写障碍和计算障碍）的患病率。
在三、四年级的 8-11 岁儿童中进行了一项横断面多阶段分层随机聚类抽样研究。对这些儿童进行了六级筛查方法，从识别学业落后开始，然后逐步排除视力和听力受损、慢性疾病和智力低下，在最后一步，对剩余的儿童进行阅读、理解、写作和数学计算的特定测试。
抽样儿童中特定学习障碍的患病率为 15.17%，而分别有 12.5%、11.2%和 10.5%的儿童患有书写障碍、阅读障碍和计算障碍。
这项研究表明，印度特定学习障碍的患病率高于以往的估计。该研究具有独特性，因为它采用了简化的筛查方法和工具进行了大规模的、具有地理代表性的设计和问题识别，从而最大限度地减少了专家需求的数量和时间，并节省了昂贵的调查。这种方法和工具适用于现场情况和资源匮乏的环境。根据作者的经验，他们表示需要进行更多的患病率研究、补救教育和政策干预，以在主流教育系统中管理特定学习障碍，提高印度儿童的学校表现。
