Abuse and Neglect of Children With Specific Learning Disorders in Türkiye: A Case-Control Study

Although it is often stated that children with special needs are at risk of being abused and neglected, research conducted on the abuse of children with specific learning disorders (SLDs) is limited.

This case-control study aims to compare exposure to neglect and abuse among children diagnosed with SLDs (case group) and children with typical development (control group). The study included children aged 6 to 12 years who were referred to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic and Pediatric Clinic of a hospital in Türkiye. The data collection process included 196 participants and lasted for 7 months in 2020.

Based on the analysis of the data collected with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children-Present and Lifetime Turkish Version (K-SADS-PL-T) and the Abuse Assessment Questionnaire, we determined that children with SLDs were physically and emotionally abused more than the children of the control group. In addition, they witnessed violence between their parents more than the control group. Physical abuse, emotional abuse and witnessing family violence were identified as significant predictors for SLD.

The presence of SLDs is a significant risk factor for children to be exposed to abuse even in the absence of ADHD as a comorbidity.