Cognitive profile of children with neurofibromatosis and reading disabilities.
A large percentage of children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1(NF-1) have learning disabilities, often in the realm of reading. Previous studies have indicated that children with NF-1 show a neuropsychological profile similar to idiopathic reading disabilities (IRD); however, studies typically have not subdivided children with NF-1 into those who do and do not have RD (NF+RD and NFnoRD, respectively). The current study examined the cognitive profile of children with NF-1 with and without RD and compared them to children with IRD as well as to typically developing readers (Controls). Findings showed that children with NF+RD performed similarly to children with IRD on phonological, rapid naming, and reading comprehension measures; however, children with NF+RD displayed pronounced visual-spatial deficits as compared to IRD and Control groups. In addition, when comparing the NF-1 groups to each other as well as to the control and IRD groups, the current study reported that there were no oral language differences; lack of findings in the realm of oral language was attributed to the fact that groups were equated on IQ. Overall, findings suggest that a more refined classification of children with NF-1 may be helpful for tailoring academic interventions.
Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. laurie.cutting@Vanderbilt.edu
Laurie E
LE
Cutting
Terry M
TM
Levine
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014888:Wechsler Scales