The Problem of Studying Specific Learning Disabilities and the Contribution of Hemispheric Specialisation

Abstract

Several studies are described which demonstrate that children referred for learning disabilities. as well as underachievers in the mainstream elementary schools, have a cognitive profile favouring visuospatial skills over verbosequential skills. That is, not only do they have poor verbosequential skills but they have good visuospatial skills. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that fust degree relatives of such children also have a similar cognitive profile even though they do not report lea.rning difficulties. It is suggested that this profile is a necessary but not sufficient condition for most manifestations of specific learning disability. It is possible that this profile, along with other shared cognitive performances, might serve as a basis of future genetic studies that try to understand the underlying cerebral mechanisms responsible for learning disabilities.