Unexpected sex-ratios in families of language/learning-impaired children.
There is a well-documented propensity of males affected with developmental language/learning impairment. Results from this study demonstrate, unexpectedly, that this sex-ratio difference of males to females with developmental language/learning disorders was found to occur significantly only in families with a language/learning-impaired mother. In addition, a remarkably aberrant offspring sex-ratio was found in families of language/learning-impaired children who had an affected mother, but not father. Mothers who were developmentally language/learning-impaired had three times as many sons as daughters, and five times as many language/learning-impaired sons as daughters. Genetic and hormonal influences that might affect both sex-ratio and neuroanatomical development and disorders are discussed.
Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neurosciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
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P
Tallal
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R
Ross
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S
Curtiss
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D012744:Sex Ratio; D014960:X Chromosome