Cited by 14Cerebral Palsy and Movement DisordersDevelopmental and Educational NeuropsychologyReading and Literacy Development

Academic Skills in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Specific Learning Disorders

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Micheletti, Serena, Galli, Jessica, Vezzoli, Marika, Scaglioni, Vera, Agostini, Stefania, Calza, Stefano, Merabet, Lotfi B., Fazzi, Elisa·2024·Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and clinical manifestations of reading, writing, and mathematics disorders in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We explored how the clinical profile of these children differed from those with specific learning disorders (SLDs), taking into account several factors, particularly IQ scores, neuropsychological aspects, and the presence of a visual impairment. METHOD: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 42 children with CP (mean age 9 years 8 months; SD = 2 years 2 months) and 60 children with SLDs (mean age 10 years; SD = 1 year 7 months). Clinical characteristics, neuromotor and cognitive profiles, neuropsychological aspects (speech performance, academic skills, visual attention, phonological awareness, working memory), and signs of visual impairment (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual field, oculomotor functions) were assessed. A machine learning approach consisting of a random forest algorithm, where the outcome was the diagnosis and the covariates were the clinical variables collected in the sample, was used for the analyses. RESULTS: About 59% of the children with CP had reading, writing, or mathematics disorders. Children with CP with learning disorders had a low performance IQ, normal phonological awareness, and working memory difficulties, whereas children with SLDs had normal performance IQ, impaired phonological awareness, and mild working memory difficulties. There were no differences in verbal IQ between the two groups. INTERPRETATION: Learning disorders are frequently associated with CP, with different clinical characteristics, compared with SLDs. Assessment of academic skills is mandatory in these children, even if the IQ is normal. At school age, specific interventions to promote academic skills in children with CP could be a major rehabilitative goal. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Reading, writing, and mathematics disorders in cerebral palsy have specific clinical characteristics. Their underlying mechanisms differ from those described in specific learning disorders. Working memory impairment can be considered a hallmark of learning disorders in children with cerebral palsy.

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  • The presence of learning disorders may be high in children with CP, with over half exhibiting at least one learning disorder and close to 40% having more than one learning disorder.

    “The presence of learning disorders may be high in this population, with over half exhibiting at least one learning disorder and close to 40% having more than one learning disorder [38].”

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Authors
Micheletti, S., Galli, J., Vezzoli, M., Scaglioni, V., Agostini, S., Calza, S., Merabet, L. B., & Fazzi, E.
Affiliations
  • Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia (IT)
  • University of Brescia (IT)
  • Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (US)
Corresponding author
Micheletti, Serena
Venue
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2023-11-21
Volume
66
Issue
6
Pages
778-792
ISSN
  • 0012-1622 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8749
OpenAlex
W4388922158
Cited by
14
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3
FWCI
2.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Research Information System (Università degli Studi di Brescia) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
Keywords
cerebral palsy, specific learning disorders, reading disorders, writing disorders, academic skills, working memory, phonological awareness, visual impairment, IQ, neuropsychological assessment, children
MeSH terms
Specific Learning Disorder, Academic Performance, Adolescent, Cerebral Palsy, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Learning Disabilities, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Prospective Studies

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