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Familial Association and Frequency of Learning Disabilities in ADHD Sibling Pair Families

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Abstract

In a sample of 235 families with at least two children with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the frequency and familial association of learning disabilities (LD) were assessed. Familiality was examined both between sibling pairs and between parents and their children. Two methods for defining LD, a discrepancy-based and a low-achievement model, were employed to examine the occurrence of LD in this sample. The specific types of LD examined included Reading Disability (RD), Math Disability (MD), and Writing Disability (WD). The prevalence rates were highest for RD, followed by WD then MD. The two definitions of LD yielded similar prevalence rates but identified different groups of children with vastly different IQ scores. Strong familial association was demonstrated for RD both between sibling pairs and between parents and children, with weaker association for WD. There was evidence of nonrandom mating for LD among parents, but not for ADHD or for ADHD + LD. Despite the high comorbidity of ADHD and LD among parents, the presence of ADHD in the parents did not predict child LD supporting independent familial factors underlying ADHD and LD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, 300 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 1416, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-6967, USA

    Melissa Del’Homme

  2. Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Tae S. Kim, Sandra K. Loo, May H. Yang & Susan L. Smalley

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  1. Melissa Del’Homme
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  2. Tae S. Kim
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  3. Sandra K. Loo
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  4. May H. Yang
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  5. Susan L. Smalley
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Correspondence to Melissa Del’Homme.

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Del’Homme, M., Kim, T.S., Loo, S.K. et al. Familial Association and Frequency of Learning Disabilities in ADHD Sibling Pair Families. J Abnorm Child Psychol 35, 55–62 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-006-9080-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-006-9080-5

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