title: Association between childhood specific learning difficulties and school performance in adolescents with and without ADHD symptoms: a 16-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors investigated whether childhood specific learning difficulties (SLDs) predict later school performance in adolescents with ADHD symptoms (ADHDs) and how SLDs associate with educational aspirations.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (n = 9,432), data about children were collected using questionnaires for parents and teachers at ages 7 and 8 and for parents and adolescents at ages 15/16. Information on school performance was obtained from a national register.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The occurrence of SLDs at 8 years was 19.9% (n = 1,198), ADHDs at 15/16 years was 8.0% (n = 530), and comorbid ADHDs and SLDs was 3.0% (n = 179). Having ADHDs but not SLDs or having both was associated with a significantly lower mean value in school grades for theoretical subjects. Adolescents with comorbid ADHDs and SLDs repeated a grade more often, and their educational aspirations were less ambitious than those in other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHDs and SLDs have a negative influence on academic achievements.
authors: 1Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Box 5000, 90014 University of Oulu, Finland.
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Taanila
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Ebeling
authors: Marjo
authors: M
authors: Tiihala
authors: Marika
authors: M
authors: Kaakinen
authors: Irma
authors: I
authors: Moilanen
authors: Tuula
authors: T
authors: Hurtig
authors: Anneli
authors: A
authors: Yliherva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires