Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Developmental dyscalculia is a familial learning disability.

R S Shalev1, O Manor, B Kerem

  • 1Neuropediatric Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. shalev@szmc.org.il

Journal of Learning Disabilities
|October 23, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Developmental dyscalculia (DC) shows significant familial aggregation, suggesting a genetic link. This learning disability is much more common in relatives of affected children than in the general population.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Environmental mismatch and obesity in humans: The Jerusalem Perinatal Family Follow-Up Study.

International journal of obesity (2005)·2021
Same author

Habitual sleep duration and sleep duration variation are independently associated with body mass index.

International journal of obesity (2005)·2017
Same author

Psychiatric disorders in a cohort of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome.

European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·2017
Same author

Live birth sex ratios and father's geographic origins in Jerusalem, 1964-1976.

American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council·2016
Same author

Associations of socioeconomic position in childhood and young adulthood with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Jerusalem Perinatal Family Follow-Up Study.

Journal of epidemiology and community health·2016
Same author

Anthropometric adjustments are helpful in the interpretation of BMD and BMC Z-scores of pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2016

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Evidence supports genetic factors in dyslexia and ADHD, but the genetic role in developmental dyscalculia (DC) is less understood.
  • Developmental dyscalculia is characterized by poor arithmetic performance despite adequate IQ.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the familial aggregation of developmental dyscalculia.
  • To determine if DC occurs more frequently in the families of affected children.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed siblings and parents of children diagnosed with DC for arithmetic, reading, and attention disorders.
  • Defined DC by IQ > 85, poor arithmetic skills, and a significant discrepancy between arithmetic achievement and IQ.
  • Included 39 DC probands, their parents, siblings, and second-degree relatives in the study.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of DC was found in relatives: 66% of mothers, 40% of fathers, 53% of siblings, and 44% of second-degree relatives.
  • The intraclass correlation for sib pairs was 0.27, with a 95% CI for sibling prevalence of 40%-64%.
  • This familial prevalence is nearly tenfold higher than in the general population; IQ and attention problems were not identified as risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Developmental dyscalculia exhibits significant familial aggregation, similar to other learning disabilities.
  • These findings strongly suggest a role for genetic factors in the etiology of developmental dyscalculia.