Learning disorders in school-going children-detection and diagnosis

Abstract

A screening programme was carried out among school-going children in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to identify children with learning disorders. During the course of one academic year, 34 such children were identified. The cause was considered preventable in around half of the cases. In a third of cases with a genetic cause, prevention was possible with existing knowledge and practice.

Prevalence and psychosocial correlates of global developmental delay in 3-year-old children in the United Arab Emirates

“…Given the fact that more than 90% of children and families affected by developmental disabilities are likely to live in developing countries [9], the need for efficient screening procedures and effective intervention strategies can hardly be overemphasized in these settings. As shown in an earlier UAE study [36], many of children with developmental delays are not detected even after they have entered school. Our finding that parents failed to identify the delays even on direct questioning, compounded by the fact that these children slipped through available pediatric surveillance, indicates that raising the awareness of the public and of child health professionals should take priority in this country, as well as in other developing countries with similar population profiles.…”

Education and Consanguineous Marriage

“…60 Mete et al (2020) adjust for potential endogeneity of consanguineous marriage and show that these unions cause lower cognition, lower height-for-weight in the offspring and that these children are more likely to be stunted. Learning and reading disorders are more prevalent among children of consanguineous marriages (Eapen et al 1998;Abu-Rabia and Maroun 2005).…”

Education and Consanguineous Marriage

“…19 Mete et al (2020) adjust for potential endogeneity of consanguineous marriage and show that these unions cause lower cognition, lower height-for-weight in the offspring and that these children are more likely to be stunted. Learning and reading disorders are more prevalent among children of consanguineous marriages (Eapen et al 1998;Abu-Rabia and Maroun 2005).…”