Neuropsychological stability and prognosis of subgroups of children with learning disabilities

A sample of 74 Finnish children with mild learning disabilities (LD) and 57 controls was followed from the third grade (Study 1) to the sixth grade (Study 2). In the initial study, the sample had been grouped into five valid subgroups (Normal, General Language, Visuo-Motor, General Deficiency, Naming) utilizing a cluster analysis. In both studies a battery of 12 neuropsychological, reading, and writing tests was administered, and teacher ratings were obtained. The results indicated that the general neuropsychological profiles of the subgroups were maintained, but some changes, consistent with the progress in reading, were noted. The developmental rate of some neuropsychological functions from Study 1 to Study 2 in the subgroups of children with learning disabilities more closely approached that of the Normal subgroup. At follow-up, 64% of the original LD sample continued to have marked reading and/or writing problems. The Naming subgroup had a more unfavorable prognosis than the other subgroups, especially in reading, and the General Deficiency subgroup in writing (spelling), respectively. Some possibilities for using the results to improve remedial teaching are discussed.