• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.341-353
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• 2006

Learning disorders are diagnosed when the individual's achievement on standardized tests in reading, mathematics, or written expression is substantially below that expected for age, schooling, and level of intelligence. Subtypes of learning disorders may be classified into two groups, language-based type learning disorders including reading and writing disorder, and nonverbal type learning disorder (NLD) such as those relating to mathematics & visuospatial skills, and those in the autism spectrum. Converging evidence indicates that reading disorder represents a disorder within the language system and more specifically within a particular subcomponent of that system, phonological processing. Recent advances in neuroimaging technology, particularly the development of fMRI, provide evidences of a neurobiological basis for reading disorder, specifically a disruption of two left hemisphere posterior brain systems, one parieto-temporal, the other occipito-temporal. The former is the reading system for beginner reading, the latter for skilled reading. Compensatory engagement of anterior systems around the inferior frontal gyrus(Broca's area) and a posterior(right occipito-temporal) system is noted in persistent poor readers in long-term follow up study. The theoretical model proposed to explain NLD's source is not right hemisphere damage, but rather the white matter model. The working hypothesis of the white matter model is that the underdevelopment of, damage to, or dysfunction of cerebral white matter(long myelinated fibers) is the source of this disorder. The role of an evidence-based effective intervention in the remediation of children with learning disorder is discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.192-196
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• 2017

Social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) is a new diagnosis included under communication disorders in the neurodevelopmental disorders section of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. SCD is defined as a primary deficit in the social use of nonverbal and verbal communication. SCD has very much in common with pragmatic language impairment, which is characterized by difficulties in understanding and using language in context and following the social rules of language, despite relative strengths in word knowledge and grammar. SCD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are similar in that they both involve deficits in social communication skills, however individuals with SCD do not demonstrate restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, insistence on sameness, or sensory abnormalities. It is essential to rule out a diagnosis of ASD by verifying the lack of these additional symptoms, current or past. The criteria for SCD are qualitatively different from those of ASD and are not equivalent to those of mild ASD. It is clinically important that SCD should be differentiated from high-functioning ASD (such as Asperger syndrome) and nonverbal learning disabilities. The ultimate goals are the refinement of the conceptualization, development and validation of assessment tools and interventions, and obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the shared and unique etiologic factors for SCD in relation to those of other neurodevelopmental disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to examine usefulness of KEDI-Individual Basic Learning Skills Test as a diagnostic tool of learning disorders(LD). Learning disorder group consisted of two subgroups, verbal learning disorder group(VLD, n＝34) and nonverbal learning disorder group(NVLD, n＝14). Comparison group consisted of Dysthymia Disorder subgroup(n＝11) and Normal subgroup(n＝20). Performance of intelligence test and achievement test was examined in all 4 subgroups. In KEDI-WISC, VLD subgroup revealed primary problems in vocabulary, information and verbal-auditory attention test. NVLD group revealed primary problems in almost all performance tests such as visual acuity, psycho-motor coordination speed and visual-spatial organizations ability subtest. In KEDI-Individual Basic Learning Test, VLD group revealed primary problems in phonological coding process, word recognition and mathematics. For successful classification of LD children, the importance of achievement test and intelligence test was discussed by discriminant analysis and factor analysis. The results indicate that KEDI-Individual Basic Learning Skills is of considerable usefulness in diagnosing LD, but must be used in subtests, and additional tests must be conducted for thorough exploration of LD.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2013

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate attention, memory and executive function in patients with narcolepsy. Methods: This study included 23 narcoleptic patients whose diagnosis were confirmed by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders(ICSD) at Chonnam National University Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic or an other hospital in Korea, from 2005 to 2008, as well as 23 normal controls. All participants were given an IQ test for Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and several neuropsychological function tests (the d2 test for attention function, the Rey Complex Figure Test for nonverbal memory, the Korean-California Verbal Learning Test [K-CVLT] for verbal memory, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for executive function). Clinical features of narcoleptic patients, including the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucination, were investigated by a structured clinical interview administered by a neuropsychiatist. Excessive daytime sleepiness was evaluated by the Epworth sleepiness scale. Results: Characteristic symptoms of narcolepsy observed in this study included excessive daytime sleepiness (n=23, 100.0%), cataplexy (n=19, 82.6%), hypnagogic hallucination (n=5, 21.7%) and sleep paralysis (n=12, 52.2%). In nocturnal polysomnographic findings, stage 2 sleep and REM latency were found to be significantly decreased in narcoleptic patients compared with the control group, and were accompanied by significant increases in stage 1 sleep. Narcoleptic patients had lower scores than the control group on total number, Total Number-Total Error, Concentration Performance and Fluctuation Rate on the d2 test, which measures attention. Also, there were significant differences between the performance of patient and control groups on the B list of the K-CVLT, which measures verbal memory. Conclusion: Narcoleptic patients showed decreased attention and verbal memory performance compared to the control group; however, in many areas, narcoleptic patients still demonstrated normal cognitive function.