This article presents a review of the literature on orofacial clefting in children. The authors review the etiology, prevalence, and variations of clefting as well as issues related to neuropsychological, social, academic, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with clefts. Finally, the authors discuss the implications for school…

Apraxic agraphia is a writing disorder due to a loss or lack of access to motor engrams that program the movements necessary to produce letters. Clinical and functional neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that the neural network responsible for writing includes the superior parietal region and the dorsolateral and medial premotor cortex. Recent…

Five to seven percent of children experience severe difficulties in learning mathematics and/or reading. Current trials that are focused on identifying biological markers suggest that these learning disabilities, known as Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) and Dyslexia (for reading), are due to underlying brain dysfunctions. One ongoing controversy…

Neurofibromatosis, type 1 (NF-1) is a common genetic disorder affecting 1 in 3,500-4,000 individuals in the world. Mutations of the NF-1 gene produce a myriad of physical, medical, and psychological manifestations. Although there is a very high degree of variability in the manifestations between individuals with NF-1, the majority of children and…

This paper reviews literature supporting the notion that learning disabilities are presumed to be a result of central nervous system dysfunction. It focuses on the postmortem and neuroimaging studies that provide evidence of a neurological conceptualization of learning disabilities. (Author/JDD)

The brains of 16 premature infants who died within their first month of life were studied microscopically. Journal Availability: See EC 152 470. (Author/CL)

Experimental studies and clinical observations have indicated that right-hemisphere lesions produce impulsive talkative behavior. An exploratory study was conducted to investigate whether right-cerebral dysfunction would be evident in the intelligence test scores of talkative students with learning disabilities. The study with 28 children (ages…

Opposing views regarding the connection between lead exposure and cognitive impairment are presented. C. B. Ernhart states that no study has yet proved that low-level lead exposure is detrimental to child development, while H. L. Needleman asserts that previous research studies have proven conclusively that such a connection exists. (CB)

This paper summarizes research currently being conducted on the biologic underpinnings of learning disorders, particularly dyslexia. The research findings discussed are derived from studying neuroanatomic, neurophysiologic, neurogenetic, neuroimaging, and behavioral characteristics in animal models that exhibit developmental brain anomalies and…

Examined are issues in the controversy over the existence of minimal cerbral dysfunction as a cause of cognitive and behavioral difficulties. (DB)

The paper sets forth the position of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities regarding definitions of learning disabilities (LD) as found in P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The paper cites difficulties with the current definition, suggesting that misinterpretation has given the impression that individuals…